SPRING MANAGEMENT OF BEES 
7 
by a wall of bees on each side of it for if the animal 
heat drops down even a few degrees the brood either 
dies or if it hatches results in stunted or short lived 
bees ; but during warm weather and in the tropics, the 
experienced bee-keeper may somewhat hasten the 
progress of a colony by spreading the brood, but he 
should proceed very cautiously and only one frame at 
a) time. If the nights are inclined to be at all chilly 
the hives should be well protected. In no case should 
there be cracks or air gaps to let in chilling breezes. 
No hive under any circumstances, in fact, should have 
such air currents except during the very hottest 
weather and that only for a very short time. 
Probably the weakest point in American bee manage- 
ment is the want of protection for the hives. Many 
use single-walled hives, which they take out of the 
CHAFF HIVE 
Millar where they have wintered, and set them on 
Tneir summer stand without the slightest protection 
from the chilly winds of spring. They simply rake 
out the dead bees from the bottom-board, which have 
