MANIPULATING. 6l 



not in such numbers as to be of much detriment to the stock, 

 as most of these voyageurs are old bees who have pretty nearly 

 "run their course." As will be seen by this, it is inadvisable to 

 alter the position of any hive unless it is moved at least two 

 miles. But this does not apply to the winter time, after the 

 bees have been confined to their hive for some weeks. During 

 this period they seem partially to have forgotten the topo- 

 graphy of the neighbourhood, but not entirely so, as even then 

 a few will fly back to the old stand. Therefore, if it is 

 required to move hives a short distance, one of the following 

 plans must be adopted : it must be done during the winter, and 

 after a considerable interval of bad weather; or they must be 

 taken at least two miles from their original position, and then, 

 after about a fortnight, brought back to the position required ; 

 or the hives must be moved towards a given spot, by short 

 stages at one time. If a colony is moved two yards from its 

 position it is found that a large number of the bees will be 

 lost ; but if the distance moved is only one yard, all will be 

 able to discover the whereabouts of the hive. Particular atten- 

 tion must be paid that the moving is only done on the evening 

 of each day when the bees, through this same day, have been 

 flying very freely. The position of two hives can be inter- 

 changed — a course of action frequently desirable if this is done 

 when honey is coming in plentifully. Bees coming home laden 

 with honey will almost invariably be received into a strange 

 hive, as also will very young bees. This strange fact accounts for so 

 many bees of distinct and different races being found in other 

 than their own hives. 



109. Spring Management. — As soon as winter becomes 

 a thing of the past the bees will commence to move in a more 

 business-like manner ; not but what, even before this, they have 

 been preparing for the coming season. Brood-rearing has been 

 going on for some time ; very often in January a commencement 

 will be made, and nearly all hives contain a certain amount of 

 brood, in various stages, during February. It is then but a 

 small patch, right in the centre of the cluster, which, as the 

 season advances, gradually increases in size until nearly the 

 whole of the combs in the body-box are one mass of brood. 

 When breeding has started the bees must be kept particularly 

 warm ; more so is this necessary than even in winter. It is 

 by the warmth of the bees' bodies that the eggs are hatched, 

 and the larvse protected from the cold. A sudden chill will 

 kill them. The greatest care must be taken that no cold 

 draughts are allowed to enter the hive, and that the cover- 

 ings on top of the frames are sufficient and well packed. 

 Many careless bee-keepers place the quilts on, but do not 

 notice whether they properly cover the frames or not, so 



