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TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER. 



THE BEE-MASTER S MONTHLY MANUAL. 



The bees will be more or less active this month, according 

 to the openness of the season. Should the bees be seen 

 on a fine day flying abroad in great numbers, and making 

 a humming noise, a just opinion may be formed that the 

 hives are in good health, and the less they are molested, the 

 better. Should, however, any accident occur which renders 

 it necessary to inspect the interior of the hive, let it be an 

 invariable principle to choose a fine dry day for the purpose, 

 for humidity destroys more hives than cold. 



Particular attention should be paid in brushing off the 

 snow from the hives. Never permit it to dissolve upon 

 them, for it will in many instances penetrate to the in- 

 terior, spoiling the combs, and forcing the bees to forsake 

 the hive. 



The comparative degree of health can, in a great degree, 

 be ascertained by the symptoms of anger, which are dis- 

 played on lifting up the hive. If a rustling noise be heard 

 amongst the bees, and a sudden jerking of the wings be 

 observed, it may be concluded that the community are in 

 good health. The odour which issues from the hive im- 

 mediately on raising it, is a very just criterion by which to 

 judge of the health of the bees. It is, however, difficult to 

 describe the distinctive properties of that odour, and the 

 only sure method for the inexperienced apiarian is, to draw 



