363 THE HIVE AND HONET-BEE. 



CHAPTER XXII. . 



BEE-KEEPEE'S CAIENDAR BEE-KEEPEE'S AXIOMS. 



This Chapter gives to the inexperienced bee-keepet 

 brief directions for each month ia the year,* and, by 

 means of the full Alphabetical Index, aU that is said on 

 any topic can easily be referred to. 



Januaet. — ^In cold cHmates, bees are now usually in a 

 state of repose. If the colonies have had proper attention 

 in the Fall, nothing wUl ordinarily need to be done that 

 will excite them to an injurious activity. In very cold 

 climates, Bowever, when a severe temperature is of long 

 continuance, it will be necessary, unless the hives have 

 thorough upward (p. 340) ventilation, to bring them into 

 a warm room (p. 341), to thaw out the ice, remove the 

 dampness, and allow the bees to get access to their sup- 

 plies. In January there are occasionally, even in very 

 cold latitudes, days so pleasant that bees can fly out to 

 discharge their feeces ; do not confine them (p. 337), even 

 if some are lost on the snow. In this month clean the 

 bottom-boards (p. 347), but disturb the bees as little as 

 possible. See, also, that they are proj)erly supplied with 

 water (p. 344), as healthy stocks have already begun to 

 breed (p. 239). * 



Febeuaey. — This month is sometimes colder than 

 January, and then the directions given for the previous 

 month must be followed. In mild seasons, however, and in 

 warm regions, bees begin to fly quite lively in February, 

 and in some locations they gather poUen. The bottom- 



* Pattadivs, who wrote on bees nearly 2,000 years ago, arranges his remarks in 

 the form of a monthly calendar. 



