Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-16
nees I'm February.

The @bee year, commonly commences In
this month, as we have then the first indi-
cations and evidence Of reviving activity in
the hive. A small amount of brood Is indeed
notunireouentlyf found already in January,
in strong stocks, when the weather Is mild,
italian queens particularly being inclined
to early, we might say premature, oviposl-
tiOn., This, however, Is not desirable
condition Of affairs, as such early brOoding
is always hazardous, and, involves .. large
CONSUMPTION Of stores, which might be
more usefully reserved till later In the
Spring. 1t is hence advisable to repress
bfoodfng, wherever practicable, till to-
ward the middle Of March, If we wish to
be sure Of having strong colonies, when
the gathering season opens. o.a.r
Stocks wintered on their summer stands
should. therefore, remain undisturbed till
after the bees are able 70 fly and discharge
their f0ces, and are carrying out their
dead. This Is the proper time, too, to
change the. bottom boards substituting
new and clean ones Therefor. or cleansing
and drying the old ones. The dead bees
found on the bottom board Of every hive,
should be carefully examined, to see
whether the queer, be among them; and II
she Be found there, the stock should either
be broken up at once, or united with some
weak colony having a fertile queen. The
hive should now remain undisturbed, and
reouires no further attention, till amid day
occurs, enabling the bees TO fly, when their
department. should be carefully Observed, TO
see whether any Of the stocks show signs OF
Queenlessness. III any such are noticed,
they should be disposed as directed
above, for 1t Is much toe early In the season
10 think pfI Ien6blinG them to oIfeaf atqueen
by supplying them with eggs and lary2s
unless perchance q drone- breeding queen
has been wintered In the aplary. ~, -, 4.
Stocks In movable c0mb-hiEes should
algObe examined on, the, first day when
bees arc able TO nv, to ascertain the copdi-
tion OF their stores, and to supply such as
are deficient; and the opportunity should,
likeHise be used TO look for the queeh.-.
End-combs containing honey may now also
beset nearer the middle Of the hive where
the bees have been clustered, TO render the
stores more accessible TO them, and 10 re-
strict the broOding space to narrower lin
Colonies wintered in dark chamber or
cellar should not be replaced on their sum-
mep stands till the winter Is thoroughly
broken; aud a mild day, when the bees can
fly,r should be chosen for Ehe remoyal.--
Stocks intended to be placed aside of each
other on the stand. should not be brought
out At the same time, as the one that makes
the loudest hummi1g will attract many
bees from It's neighbor, II the bees Of both
be living at the same time, when set out. IL
is better TO remove, first. such as can be set
remote from each other. !.
ii fbeforo removal, and while the weather
doer not vet permit the general transfers
any colony be found restless or heard hum-
ming loudly, II should be taken out sepaf-
atelV ana examined, to be fed IL In need OF
stores, OF otherwise disposed Of II queen
less, sy n ia fl ~.
M stocks IN movable comb-hiyes need
nur,nlies AZ this time, these can be most adj
wants RebbslS Furnished BY inserting frams 8
confainins honey In theconib. But 4 such