324 AUSTRALASIAN 



SEPTEMBER. 



Where spring forage is scarce, the bees should be fed 

 sparingly to stimulate brood rearing. As more room is 

 required in the brood nest, shift the division boards and place 

 a clean empty comb in the centre. Early in the month place 

 a clean drone comb in the centre of the brood chamber of the 

 colony chosen for raising drones. About the middle of the 

 month, if the season promises to be favourable, start cell- 

 building for queen rearing. Finish uniting, and beware of 

 robbing. Give frames of emerging brood from the strongest 

 to the weaker colonies. Sow seeds of honey plants for suc- 

 cessional blossoms. 



OCTOBER. 



Hives for the expected increase should now be ready to set 

 out before the swarming season commences, which will begin 

 in ordinary seasons about the third week in this month. Cut 

 out queen cells as soon as ready, and form nuclei. Transfer 

 in the early part of the month. If increase is not desired, put 

 on surplus boxes before the bees prepare for swarming. Pre- 

 vent after-swarming. Enlarge entrances as the weather gets 

 warmer, and keep the apiary clear of weeds and long grass. 



NOVEMBER. 



As the surplus honey is secured, keep each kind as far as 

 possible by itself, more especially white clover honey. Extract 

 when necessary, and remove sections when filled and sealed. 

 Provide plenty of room in the brood chamber for breeding 

 purposes by extracting the honey from the combs carefully, if 

 necessary. Keep some spare queens on hand in nucleus hives. 

 Shade all newly-hived swarms, and give plenty of ventilation. 

 Buckwheat and mustard may now be sown for autumn flower- 

 ing. 



DECEMBER. 



The instructions given for last month will apply to this. 

 Keep down swarming by giving plenty of storage and breeding 

 space, and deprive before the hives get too full. Supersede 

 all poor and feeble queens. The main crop of buckwheat 

 should now be sown. 



