THE APIARY. 
413 
little insects come at last to trust in what appears a 
perennial spring. The natural result is a wider 
deposition of eggs, and the grubs, in due course, 
consume the sugar supplied, so. that we positively 
exchange our syrup for bees. The increasing colony 
will require to have the combs, of which it has been 
dispossessed, restored to it ; but on no account should 
any be given until they are actually needed. 
Circumstances of very varied kinds will influence 
the details of spring treatment considerably; e.g., if 
our aim be clover honey, which begins to become 
abundant rather later than the middle of June, we 
should be able, if we intend to prevent swarming, to 
secure immense colonies for supering by starting 
stimulation at the beginning of May, when, in fair 
weather, but little feeding would be required, our 
results being achieved by the manipulation of the 
brood-nest described in the next paragraph ; but by 
stimulating a month earlier we may, in most seasons, 
have both stock and swarm ready for the same crop 
as honey-gathering colonies. Six weeks is the time 
usually specified as being sufficient for building up to 
giant strength. This is sufficient if we start with 
those in good condition, having prolific queens ; but 
with weak lots, unless these are aided by combs 
of brood, a much longer period is required. 
The form of the brood-nest is approximately 
globular, for reasons given at pages 31 and 35, and 
indicated at A, Fig. loi ; and as the bees increase, 
the nest is enlarged on all sides, so that the nurses 
may be condensed, and the vital heat more easily 
retained by the peripheral bees, aided by the out- 
