632 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
bees to fly often, much more food will be consumed 
than if they remain in cluster. On a warm day, the 
needy may have a stored comb (not given icy cold) 
exchanged for an empty one, or thick syrup may be 
fed to them ; but candy is to be preferred. 
Move Bees, that need moving, after a cold spell 
(page 426). 
March. 
Bees, stimulated by their more frequent opportuni- 
ties of leaving their hives, and by the w'elcome, 
though small, supplies given by opening snowdrops 
and crocuses, followed by almond and peach trees, 
elms, willows, &c., begin now to carry forward the 
work of raising brood in earnest. Make a cautious 
examination (page 410), and, if essential, feed. In 
the South of England, if dependent upon orchard 
honey (which is not first quality), stimulate at the 
same time, crowding the bees on to a few combs. 
Borage may be sown along the hedgerows. 
The Sunflower, sown now, although helpful in 
autumn, by providing pollen, supplies, unfortunately, 
a soft, resinous body, which the bees use as propolis, 
making their hives most disagreeable to the manipu- 
lator. 
Queen Wasps now begin to make their appearance, 
hovering about the hives. They should be diligently 
destroyed (page 579). 
Hives towards the end of the month may be 
exchanged for the newly-painted ones, while the 
removed may be still put into trim for increase in 
stocks. 
