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board of common hives and destroy the moths, and 
guard against robbing. 
May. — Bees will now begin to gather much honey, 
and usually begin to work in boxes before swarm- 
ing. Prepare the boxes before putting them on 
the hive, by dipping one edge of comb in melted 
bees-wax, then stick it to the top of the box before the 
melted wax gets cold. Enlarge the entrance by mov- 
ing the slides ; clean the moth-grooves regularly, and 
destroy the moth. About the tenth of this month, 
examine some strong colony, and if sealed drone-brood 
or mature drones are found, pieparations may be made 
for nucleus swarming, by starting queen-cells. (See 
“Artificial Swarming.’’ Bees and combs may be 
transferred to movable-comb hives. Strong stocks, and 
especially Italians, may swarm near the close of this 
month ; have everything ready. 
June. — This is the principal swarming month, in 
such parts of the country as have a full supply of white 
clover forage, and if natural swarming is allowed, close 
attention from the bee-keeper is needed. All opera- 
tions of artificial swarming, and the transferring of bees 
may be performed. Prevent over-swarming by remov- 
ing all queen-cells except one. Open the upper fly- 
holes to ventilate the hive and give bees the shortest 
road to the honey-boxes. Raise up boxes nearly full, 
place the empty boxes under them. Remove full boxes 
