THE APIARY. 
409 
and well-conditioned stocks, the most extreme weather 
will not prevent eggs being laid. Although these 
wondrous little political economists thus hazard a 
cautious expenditure, which may become a profit, 
through a harvest of which as yet there is no 
prophesy, they will only breed rapidly while they feel 
themselves already in possession of an income justifying 
the great consumption of store extensive breeding 
entails. These principles need remembrance in study- 
ing the important question of spring stimulation^ 
respecting which there is great difference of opinion ; 
yet the actual difference is less than the apparent, 
since locality, flora, climate, object (bees or honey), 
amount of time at disposal, &c., account for much of 
the divergence. In Britain the honey season is, even 
in the most favoured districts, comparatively short, and 
the main point is to secure immense populations in 
our hives, which shall reach their maximum at the 
opening of the first great honey-flow. 
Stocks in good hands will, as a rule, demand no 
attention during the winter months, which should be 
passed by the bees without external disturbance of 
any kind ; but with the opening of spring, with the first 
fine days in March, an examination, in which the bees 
are as little aroused as possible, may be made, to 
ascertain their condition and the amount of stores they 
still possess. The chaff-tray (page 61), which I have so 
many years advocated, and which many are now begin- 
ning to use, being lifted, or the carpeting raised, we look 
for food, and, if this be apparently needed, provide 
a cake of candy, putting over it American cloth — if 
it be our practice to use it ; or we may give a large 
