bee-keepbr's calendar. 459 



followed. In milder seasons, however, and in warmer re- 

 gions, bees begin to fly quite lively in February, and in some 

 locations they commence gathering pollen. The bottom- 

 boards should be again attended to, as soon as the bees are 

 actively on the wing, and if any hives are suspiciously light, 

 sugar-candy (p. 358) should be given them. Strong cole- 

 nies will now begin to breed considerably, but nothing 

 should be done to excite them to premature activity. 



March. — In our Northern States, the inhospitable reign 

 of Winter still continues, and the directions given for the 

 two previous months will be applicable to this. If there 

 should be a pleasant day when bees are able to fly briskly, 

 seize the opportunity to remove the covers (p. 334) ; care- 

 fully clean out the hives, (p. 284), and learn the exact con- 

 dition of every colony. See that your bees have a sheltered 

 and sunny place for procuring water, (p. 357), and also that 

 they are well supplied with rye-flour ; (p. 94.) In this 

 month weak stocks commonly begin to breed, while strong 

 ones increase quite rapidly. If the weather is favorable, 

 colonies which have been kept in a special winter depository, 

 may now be put upon their proper stands, (p. 332). 



April. — Bees will ordinarily begin to gather much pollen 

 in this month, and sometimes considerable honey. As brood 

 is now very rapidly maturing, there is a largely increased 

 demand for honey, and great care should be taken to prevent 

 the bees from sufiering, in the very least, for want of food. 

 If the supplies are at all deficient, breeding will be checked, . 

 even if much of the brood does not perish, or the whole 

 colony die of starvation. If the weather is propitious, 

 feeding to promote a more rapid increase of young (p. 347), 

 may now be commenced. If any colonies are too feeble in 

 numbers, they must now be reinforced (p. 284), and should 

 the weather continue cold, for several days at a time, the 



