MONTHLY MANAGEMENT. 187 



the centre the first of this month, will give drone as early as swarming is 

 generally desirable in the Middle States. This should be regulated by 

 the climate. Regular feeding, with thin sugar syrup, about sunset during 

 this month pays well, in additional stores later in the season. But even 

 where the stocks are all strong and feeding deemed unnecessary, it is 

 well to feed in the caps during any continued cold or rainy spell in this 

 month and May. 



In this month bees from the cellar should be set on the summer stands 

 except far North, where, if they remain quiet, it may be best to wait 

 until the first of May. This should be regulated by the season. They 

 should be set out as soon as warm weather seems to have come and 

 blossoms begin to appear. In setting out bees, open only a few stocks 

 at a time, until the excitement of first flight is over. In the far north 

 continue feeding rye and oat meal this month, so long as the bees 

 will take it. 



In the far South the swarming season is approaching and the direc- 

 tions for May and June are more appropriate. In the far North, March 

 management applies. These notes apply more especially to the great 

 middle section of the country. As bees are rapidly increasing during 

 this month, common sense teaches us to take away absorbing material 

 and cover the broodnest as closely as possible with warmer covering, so 

 as to prevent upward ventilation and retain as much as possible of the 

 animal heat of the hive. There is no danger of getting the hive too hot 

 in this month, except in the far South . Sunshine on the hive stimulates 

 them in spring. Wherever the wild cherry abounds it is best to give no 

 room for storage of surplus honey from this source. Its honey is excel- 

 lent for building up colonies, but unpleasantly bitter for table use. 



At this season kill every worm or miller that may be seen. This 

 saves trouble, as each one now rears four generations during summer. 



