88 A Modem Bee-Farm 



the consequent heavy losses are fully compensated by those 

 brought to life while outside all appeared quiet 



The production of young bees at this early date is not always 

 without intermission ; cold in itself never hinders it, as the brood 

 is at the very heart of the cluster, but if unable to obtain water 

 for many days together brood-rearing ceases, only to be renewed 

 as soon as the workers can get abroad. Pollen is as a rule always 

 present in well-stored stock combs, and when this comes in freely, 

 all fresh from the fields, the brood nest is rapidly extended. Now 

 is the time to see that the bees have more than sufficient food to 

 keep them going. With a good queen it can hardly happen that 

 the combs will be too heavily charged with honey at this season, 

 but by taking the outside combs, one at a time, and inserting them 

 in the centre of the brood nest after the cappings are first bruised, 

 great progress will be made. One such comb as yet at an interval 

 of seven or ten days as needed will keep the bees and queen busy, 

 and by May ist the whole ten or more combs will be one mass of 

 brood, and the hive so crowded with bees that another set of 

 combs will be required below the stock hive. If one has no combs 

 on hand, then use sheets of foundation, alternating them with the 

 combs of brood throughout both stories, and see that the older 

 brood goes below, with the pollen combs near the outside. Now 

 proceed as explained for extracted honey, but if comb be 

 desired let the lower storey have starters only in the frames. In 

 any case feed from " hand to mouth,'' until honey comes in freely, 

 as such a large population is liable to be rendered perfectly useless 

 by the loss of the brood, by the slightest neglect at this time. 



SUMMER 



treatment will consist in management of the surplus receptacles, 

 for comb and extracted (or liquid) honey ; and as these subjects 

 require careful consideration, separate chapters will be found 

 devoted to such management. 



Queen raising also, and increase by natural swarming, as well 

 as by division, are given in due order. 



