458 bee-keeier's calendar. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



Bee-keeper's Calendar — Bee-keeper's Axioms. 



I SHALL now furnish plain directions for each month in the 

 year, so that the beginner may always know what to do, at 

 any given season, in his Apiary ; and as a full Alphabetical 

 Index is given at the end of the book, he can easily refer to 

 all that is said on any subject. 



January. — In cold climates, bees, in this month, are 

 usually in a state of repose. If the colonies have had pro- 

 per attention in the Fall, nothing will ordinarily need to be 

 done, that will excite them to an activity always more or less 

 injurious. In very cold climates, however, when a severe 

 temperature is of very long continuance, it will be necessary, 

 if the hives are not most thoroughly protected, to bring them 

 into a warm room, (p. 327,) to thaw out the ice, and allow 

 the bees to get access to their supplies. If the holes in the 

 spare honey-board are left open, (p. 4.S5,) the hives may be 

 set low, and if completely covered with snow, so much the 

 better for the bees, if proper precautions are used to prevent 

 the water from entering them, in case of a sudden thaw. 

 In January there are occasionally, even in very cold latitudes, 

 days so pleasant that bees can fly out to discharge their 

 faeces; do not confine them, (p. 327,) even if some are lost 

 on the snow. In this month clean the bottom -boards, (p. 

 327,) but disturb the bees as little as possible. 



Febkuaky. — This month is sometimes colder than January, 

 and then the directions given for the previous month, must be 



