18 



The smell of the smoke driven into the hive, or the fumea 

 from the carbolic cloth which descend when it is laid over 

 the tops oi the frames after removing the quilts, frightens the 

 bees and causes them to gorge as already stated. 



When manipulating it is inadvisable to stand in ' front of 

 the hive; this infuriates the bees by hindering their work, 

 which they will resent by stinging the operator. 



When handling or turning the combs, keep them vertical 

 and not horizontal. If held horizontally in warm weather 

 they are likely to break. 



Bright waiTQ weather should be chosen for manipulating 

 bees, as they are then usually in a good temper. If the brood 

 combs are exposed during cold or wet weather the larvse will 

 be chilled and the bees made vicious. 



Continual manipulation is a mistake, and is the cause of 

 much harm. Colonies should only be disturbed for the actual 

 work necessary. 



Conditions Conducive to Success. — It is important that 

 the beginner should clearly understand the principles that 

 underlie successful bee-keeping. A colony of bees consists of 

 a fertile queen, a large number of worker-bees, and (during 

 summer) a certain proportion of drones, together with their 

 combs and brood. The strength of a healthy colony depends on 

 the vigour and laying power of the queen, who is at her best 

 in her second season, i.e., a queen hatched in June, 1920, will 

 be at her best in May, 1921, and should be replaced by a 

 young one in 1922, by re-queening. Queens may either be 

 purchased, or be raised by the method described in Leaflet 

 No. 334 (How to Increase Colonies of Bees) included in 

 this volume. The economy of a hive depends on: (1) the 

 generation and keeping up of the warmth of the brood 

 nest (by means of the heat evolved from the bodies 

 of the clustering bees) to such a point as will stimulate 

 the production of eggs, and enable young bees to be 

 reared; (2) the nursing of the larvse, and the cleansing of 

 the cells for the queen to lay in ; (3) the collection of pollen, 

 water, and nectar for food; and (4) the building of storage 

 combs and the collection of nectar for future supplies of honey. 



The first three of these conditions must be fulfilled before 

 the last can be begun ; it is therefore only by means of a 

 large and vigorous surplu'S'^opul'a'tion tMt a colony "can 'gather 

 eriougS""sT6're?Tor""ifa"Tuture use, and "provide surplus honey 

 for the bee-keeper. "The "aim of the bee-keeper is to keep 

 his colonies strong, for weak colonies are always unprofitable. 



The next consideration is that the crowded condition of the 

 hive should be secured at the right time, i.e., at the honey 

 flow. Honey is made from the nectar of flowers. Spring 

 and early summer are the times when the land is gay with a 

 wealth of blossom, and the honey-crop is gathered. Late 

 summer and autumn are times of seed and fruit, and with the 



