Z i
May 4th 1852 use zinc for cover over the wooden top 
many very well colored Italian workers. February 26th 1861 received last of August 
two more Italian queens from flushing. Both were killed in trying to give 
them to a colony deprived of queen. Before last was given to them I 
offered them a common queen, they took her [illegible], and I at once took 
her away and gave the Italian which was instantly killed. I was too 
unwell to act with judgment or sign. Think now that if the 
bees had been gorged and out of their comb they would have taken queen. 
Shall never again offer them one except when they are gorged. May 
not this have been the reason why all were taken in the spring. 
The three Italianized stocks had enough to winter, giving the lightest
some honey from the heaviest. Bees are in good comb [illegible] not 
very strong this spring, no be bred yet gathered. About 2 
weeks ago bees made spring cleaning of their hives, lost a stock in January 
in old box, honey was candied, or so thick they could not eat it. One stock in 
old box has been living for two months on candy alone. 27th 63 degrees. Gave Rye flour 
on comb in open air. One stock strong but not the strongest seemed 
to take more than all the others. Please get some sweets. 28th 
68 degrees the stock that took so much flour very busy in bringing 
in be bread. Some sweets gathered. On the 25th saw a green 
grasshopper. March 1st 72 degrees. Bees found honey in some comb
put in barn in fall, have [illegible] each other with attempts to 
Rob. Be bread brought in, Rye flour still taken, some honey, 
bees at work on rotten apples thrown out. Weather very warm. 
2nd 71 degrees. Bees get honey and bee bread. 3rd 67 degrees at 12 noon heavy shower 
2: 00 PM 47 degrees 4th 32 degrees very raw and windy. 5th 20 degrees very windy. 
6th 32 degrees bees out some. 7th 24 degrees. 8th 60 degrees at noon, very windy, 
no pollen, 34 degrees at 9: 00 PM. Snow falling fast. 9th 28 degrees very raw, cloudy
Day. 10th 22 degrees raw, cloudy, snow flurries. 11th 20 degrees, 40 degrees at 2: 00 PM. 
12th 40 degrees at 7: 00 AM. Bees get honey. So small drones [illegible] from an 
old box hive, have seen [illegible] drone brood for more than three weeks. Has 
a drone laying queen. May now get a nucleus from Dayton, and raise 



