 (16th) On board the cars from Cincinnati to Hamilton an idea for improving frames
or bars occurred to me [diagram] Get inch linden board - with saw
cut or any better way make pieces like clothes pins only have
pieces say 1/16 inches thick below upper part - which should
be at least one inch long - so that the nails from upper part of frame will
hold in it - let lower part lap over against bottom rail of frame and
be sprigged to it - now without any corner pieces you have the frame very
stiff - Better perhaps - let these thin pieces be sprigged to upper as well as lower
rail - See Q w (8) (20th) 50 degrees N. E. Yesterday A. M. before day rain
42 degrees - Grew warmer - by noon bees flew and brought in some pollen - Weather and
condition of bees have been very remarkable - Before the stormy weather began bees
were unusually forward - had taken flour so freely that I did not give them
all they would have taken for fear of their overcrowding their cells - When the
stormy weather prevented them from going out I began feeding twice a day
the flour syrup of the Germans - hoping to secure a large spread of brood - It
was fed twice a day - and seemed to be greedily devoured - I left home on the 11th - was
absent till the 16th - Gave directions to have flour syrup continued - On my
return saw a small piece of comb on the ground covered with bees colony out
of bee-bread! never saw the like - on opening hives found but a small
amount of unsealed larvae - Bees had been suffering for want of pollen and
water - The two days previous to my return they had got some pollen and the
queens were laying eggs quite freely - In many hives the drone breeding had been
suspended - Exposed flour in the boxes - greedily devoured! 17th and 18th windy
and unpleasant - but bees took large amounts of flour - Yesterday although
they got [inserted: some] pollen they seemed almost crazy after the flour - The cold and cloudy
wet weather has pretty much used up the pollen and flour stock and available
blossoms - Bees flew considerably in P. M. - cherries and peaches beginning to
blossom - Rain in P. M. - A great laying of eggs since flour feeding has been
resumed. (21st) 43 degrees Magnificent day. Peaches etc. beginning to bloom. 22nd 40 degrees
Perfect day - peaches, plums, early cherries in full bloom - Bees have evidently suffered