113 
THE APIARY. 
March. 
This month will afford the bees frequent opportunities to fly. 
Regulate the entrances according to the strength of the colony, 
and keep them shaded in cool weather or when there is light 
snow upon the ground. (Page 108.) Brush off the bottom- 
boards. Continue the flour feed as a substitute for pollen. 
(Page 46.) Mr. Quinby says: “One apiary fed last spring 
what would amount to an average of about two lbs. to the hive, 
swarmed three weeks earlier, and sent out three times as many 
swarms as any other in this vicinity. The result must be attri- 
buted either to the feed or to the superiority of the ‘long billed’ 
variety, (Italians,) to which it was given.” 
April. 
Remove the absorbing material from over the bees and cover 
the openings in the top bars, to confine the heat and promote 
breeding. If old hives need repairing or cleaning, remove the 
bees and combs into new ones. Leave out drone comb. (Page 
54.) A stock without brood at this season is probably queen- 
less. (Page 32.) Build up weak stocks by feeding (page 
110) or by uniting them with those that are queenless. (Page 
32.) Should a weak stock be nearly overcome by robbers, 
sprinkle flour upon them, and if they are found to belong to 
a strong stock it may exchange places with the weak one. 
During this month and next raise common hives early in the 
morning and destroy the moth-worm, as one escaping now may 
breed a progeny of hundreds by autumn. (Page 103.) In 
these examinations look for immature bees upon the bottom- 
