Now is the all important season to strengthen up my colonies, the Golden 
time which if not [illegible] all will be lost. I have 40 colonies at my 
apiary, about 30 in my hives, of those 15 are strong and will build 
comb to help others, 15 are in need of help. I should like if I am [illegible]
To form about 10 more, but not until later and I can see success 
with the present lot. Strong ones will want say 2 gallons a day 
and weak ones one gallon, say 60 gallons to be fed, this 
would make it cost about $1. 50 per hive to feed, if with this I could 
secure say 40 colonies in my hives it would pay most nobly. I shall 
try feeding systematically. Found a dead sealed Queen, bees had
gnawed away all the wax from her cocoon. Robbers are very troublesome 
if I open a hive are [illegible] . 9th drove a powerful swarm, had 
Been twice before driven without getting Queen. Broke it up, found 
Queen with a few [illegible] combs. Drove another, amazing quantity 
of brood. Queen when caught was dropping eggs. If old comb is put 
in frames, it ought to be fastened very straight, or else it will make the others 
go wrong, when the frames have nothing all goes best. 12th still exceedingly 
dry, unusual complaint, no honey, exceedingly difficult to do anything 
without causing robbing. All operations such as forming swarms strengthening 
should be done before honey harvest over. And more than ever of believer in 
moderate increase. Feeding takes a power of food. July 14th still 
exceedingly dry and bees doing nothing. Plenty of buckwheat [illegible] in my 
vicinity all depends upon whether, shall make no more new swarms 
June 1854 was called away two weeks, feeding was neglected, 
when returned bees had commenced going to the stores 
and in spite of all that I could do they continued to go, and 
grew weaker and weaker. The winter was a dreadful one for 
bees, the apiary exceedingly backward I was away in [illegible] 
and my bees were not fed and nearly all perished. In the region 
[illegible] all the swarms of last year perished. Those who fed them 
in my hives carried them through. Bees did little this year 
until late. [illegible] middle of June, have 
swarmed but little, [illegible] made a great deal of honey, 
honey [illegible] Clover very abundant and sweet [illegible] 
have no [illegible] swarms in my apiary [illegible] if my 



