62 THE BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING. 



that frequently there will be quite a current of cold air through 

 the hive. 



See that all colonies are well supplied with food, and, if any 

 are found short, feed with slabs of candy on top of the frames. 



Examine all colonies some warm day in March, to see that 

 none are queenless ; if so, they must be united at once to 

 another stock having a queen (see " Uniting," par. 94). Remove 

 all frames not occupied by bees, and close up the division-board 

 nice and snug. 



All floor-boards should be cleansed from the debris which has 

 collected through the winter. In the crevices of the floor-boards, 

 and at the junction of them with body-box, are favourite retreats 

 of the larvae of the wax-moth : these must be killed. To remove 

 the floor-board, lift up the body-box very gently, and place it 

 close alongside upon a slightly carbolised cloth; then scrape 

 and brush the floor-board at some distance from the hive, thus 

 preventing any of the wax-moth larvae gaining access to it 

 again ; then replace it in its proper position, with the body-box 

 in its place. The bees have now a clean hive to commence the 

 work of the season in, as no dirt is ever allowed to remain 

 inside the body-box, and the bee-keeper has removed the dirt 

 from the floor-board. 



Soon after the commencement of April will be the best time to 

 commence stimulative (Spring) feeding ; but in certain districts, 

 where early honey-producing flowers blossom, a commencement 

 can be made before this time. In locations near fruit plantations 

 and orchards, bees are in a strong condition much earlier than 

 where the first honey crop is from the clovers. This well 

 exemplifies the fact that early or stimulative feeding produces 

 forward colonies. Where a stock has plenty of stores, it can 

 be stimulated by uncapping a portion of the honey cells (see 

 "Spring Feeding," par. loi). 



At this season add frames of comb or foundation to the outside 

 of the brood-nest, where the hives have been contracted, but not 

 until warm weather sets in, or if the hive gets uncomfortably 

 crowded ; and then only add one at a time, until the full comple- 

 ment of frames occupy the body-box. Ten Association Standard 

 frames will be found the most convenient size for a brood- 

 nest ; very few queens occupy a larger number. 



Robbing is very prevalent in spring before the honey-flow 

 sets in, but is never so difficult to eradicate as in autumn. 

 Keep the entrances of hives contracted according to the strength 

 of the colonies, or their aptitude for protecting their hives. 



Artificial pollen must be supplied to the bees just before crocuses 

 blossom, unless there are considerable sources for the supply of the 

 natural in the neighbourhood, such as from the willows, furze, 

 whin, crocuses, and other early flowers (see pars. 76 and 103). 



The providing of water at this season is very important ; this 



