SPRING DWINDMNG. 358 



utterly deserted. The comb was empty, and the only symptom 

 of life was tlip poor queen herself, ' unfriended, melani^holy, 

 slow,' crawling over the boneyless cells, a sad spectacle of the 

 fall of bee-greatness. Marius among the ruins of Carthage — 

 Napoleon at Fontainebleau — was nothing to this." 



Several such instances, caused by Spring dwindling, with 

 subsequent robbing of the honey, were observed by us. 

 Colonies are thus destroyed as late as April and May. 



660. In some instances, the enlarged abdomen of the 

 bees will show that they are suffering from constipation — 

 or inability to discharge their foeces, even though they may 

 have voided their abdomen since their long confinement. 

 Probably heir intestines are in an unhealthy condition. In 

 the worst cases of Spring dwindling, sometimes, even the 

 queens show signs of failing, and eventually disappear. 

 This may occur also with colonies that were wintered in 

 the cellar, if they have suffered from diarrhea, or have been 

 removed too early. 



There is another sort of Spring dwindling caused by the 

 loss of working bees in cold Springs, while in search of 

 water (271), or pollen (263), for the brood. 



661. To avoid losses, or to cheek them as far as possible, 

 after a hard Winter, it is indispensable that the following 

 be observed : 



1st. The hives should be located in a warm, sunny, well- 

 sheltered place. All Apiaries that are placed in exposed 

 windy situations, or facing North, suffer most from Spring 

 dwindling. 



2d. The number of combs in the hive should be reduced 

 in early Spring, with the division-board or contractor, to suit 

 the size of the cluster (349). This helps the bees to keep 

 warm and raise brood. The space must again be enlarged 

 gradually, when the colony begins to recruit. 



We consider (his contraction of the hive as altogether 

 indispensable. Let us suppose that, in early Spring, we 

 23 



