BEE MANUAL. 321 



dry seasons, but without attaching any very exact value to 

 these different terms. To the bee-keeper it may be strongly 

 recommended to avail himself constantly of the records of the 

 nearest meteorological observatory — to make himself acquainted 

 with the normal mean temperature and rainfall of each month 

 and each season of the year — that is, with the average results 

 of observations continued over a large number of years, and 

 then to watch, note, and compare with this normal standard, 

 the mean temperature and the rainfall of each passing month. 

 He will thus, at least, impress upon his mind some definite 

 idea of how far the seasons of the current year correspond with 

 or differs from the average of years, and this will considerably 

 assist him in anticipating the probable course of events in the 

 approaching honey season, and will suggest to him the most 

 suitable mode of treatment for getting his bees into a condition 

 to make the best use of the harvest season when it arrives. 



The system of recording such observations as those alluded 

 to above in a graphic form upon a diagram prepared for the 

 purpose is now so universally used in similar cases that it is 

 only necessary here to suggest its adoption to any one who 

 wishes to keep before his eyes a clear picture of the few simple 

 facts bearing upon the character of the months and seasons. 



CALENDAE. 



In arranging the apiary work for the different months I have 

 chosen the dates of the bee-seasons for the latitude of Auck- 

 land, New Zealand, as being nearest to those in the majority 

 of places in Australasia. Where they differ much the dates 

 can be altered to suit by carefully noting the time when willows 

 and early flowering peaches blossom, which in the latitude of 

 Auckland is at the latter end of August and beginning of Sep- 

 tember. 



JANUARY. 



In average seasons a good quantity of honey is gathered 

 during this month, and in late seasons the bulk of the crop is 

 often secured. Late swarms should be expected, but unless 



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