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. arly 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. 
