BRE-KEEPEU'S CALENDAR. 515 



fill their hives, and make large quantities of surplus honey 

 besides. In this month, or as soon as the first crop is over, 

 all the spare honey shoukl be removed from the hives, 

 before the dolifato whiteness of the combs becomes soiled 

 by the travel of the bees, or the quality of the honey is im- 

 paired l)y an inferior article gathered later in the season 

 (782). For the same reason, the honey extracted after 

 this crop should not be mixed with that harvested later. In 

 all the localities where a second crop is expected, the bees 

 should again be incited to breed (606) to be ready for this 

 second crop. 



The bees should have a liberal allowance of air during all 

 extremely hot weather, especially if they are in unpainted 

 hives, or stand in the sun (344). 



The larger the amount of honey they contain, the greater 

 the danger of combs breaking down from the intense heat 

 (369). The end of the honey crop can be told by the 

 presence of a few robbers who immediately begin lurking 

 about the hives (664). 



886. August. — In most regions, there is but little forage 

 for bees during the latter part of July, a,nd the first of August, 

 and they being, on this account, tempted to rob each other, 

 the greatest precautions should be used in openjng hives 

 (666). In districts where buckwheat is extensively culti- 

 vated, on flat prairies, or in the low land surrounding our 

 rivers, in which Fall-blossoms grow, the main harvest is 

 sometimes gathered, during this month and the next, and 

 swarming (406) may be resumed. In 1856, we had a 

 buckwheat swarm as late as the 16th of September ! 



The bee-keeper who has queenless hives (499) on hand 

 as late as August, must expect, as the result of his ignor- 

 ance or neglect, either to have them robbed (664) by other 

 colonies, or destroyed by the moth (802). 



887. September. — This is often a very busy month with 

 bees. The Fall flowers are in full blossom, and in some 



