362 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
CHAPTER XXII. 
BEE-KEEPER’S calendar BEE-KEEPER’S axioms. 
This Chapter gives to the inexperienced bee-keeper 
brief directions for each month in the year,* and, by 
means of the full Alphabetical Index, all that is said on 
any topic can easily be referred to. 
January. — In cold climates, bees are now usually in a 
state of repose. If the colonies have had proper attention 
in the Fall, nothing will ordinarily need to be done that 
will excite them to an injurious activity. In very cold 
climates, however, when a severe temperature is of long 
continuance, it will be necessary, unless the hives have 
thorough upward (p. 340) ventilation, to bring them into 
a warm room (p. 341), to thaw out the ice, remove the 
dampness, and allow the bees to get access to their sup- 
plies. In January there are occasionally, even in very 
cold latitudes, days so pleasant that bees can fly out to 
discharge their fleces; do not confine them (p. 337), even 
if some are lost on the snow. In this month clean the 
bottom-boards (p. 347), but disturb the bees as little as 
possible. See, also, that they are properly supplied with 
water (p. 344), as healthy stocks have already begun to 
breed (p. 239). 
February. — This month is sometimes colder than 
January, and then the directions given for the previous 
month must be followed. In mild seasons, however, an 1 in 
warm regions, bees begin to fly quite lively in February, 
and in some locations they gather pollen. The bottom- 
• Palladium who wrote on bees nearly 2,000 years ago, arranges his romarlcs In 
the* form of a monthly calender. 
