The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-03-25

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Ths hiissss ID Mart I'm most
places, too early date to take bees
permanently from winter repository,
or CELLAR, but if they have becomenn-
easy and excited, it is we'll for them
if ON some warm day, the hives may
be set out and opened. so that they
can fly freely, and then be returned
again to winter quartei1 We DO not
advise this, however, when the bees
are quiet. In that case they are just
as well to be left undisturbed until
there is prospect qfcontinued. pleas
ant weather. In many Hcahda bees
Few 10 freely last fall until = late
date, that they will bear little long
ssr confinement this, spring without
injury.
No exact time Of rule for u weather
can be given. Every bee-keeper
must exercise Judgment and common
sense in this matter. We are always
pleased, when We are able to set our
bees out early in March. A few cold
days, after they have once taken
their cleansing flight, does not iIure
them, but much Of the seasons sue
cess depends on the care taken Of
them the first month after they are
placed on their summer stands. Ev.
cry opening in the hive should be
closed except small entrance-the
bee quilt or mat placed snugly over
the flames, plenty Of food be provided
near the cluster of bees, and the en-
trance shaded in some way from wind
and the direct rays of the sun. One
thing must be borne in mind. now.
We want. \ good, strong force Of bees
to gather our honey harvest, when
ever it comes. To sec ure this, brood
must be in progress six weeks At least
before the time Of the harvest, and
plenty oft. IT, then, we expect our
honey harvest in May, We should in
this month be using all efforts to
foster brood rearing, and if. this is
done tie colony will be full Of bees at
the time when they are profitable.
This same advice applies:: to those
further south, who expect, their har-
vest . month or two earlier. Their
feeding to stimulate brood rearing
should begin six weeks at least in ad-
vance Of the main honey harvest. If
bees are amply supplied with sealed
honey it may be unnecessary to feed
them, and yet We find that little ,di-
luted honey or sugar syrup fed TO
them regularly stimulates them to
rear brood faster. After the brood
is well started, if you can give them
u comb or two of sealed honey, it is
we'll.
Put out rye meal for the bees just
As soon as they are set out of doors.
We often receive inquiries how to
feed rye meal, in spite of all the d.
rections that have been given how to
do it. In reply to them we say here,
that We feed the meal in some shelter
ed place and in shallow pans or boxes,
using several Of these boxes and put
ting only a quart or two in at a time,
and spread it thin, dry, not wet. The
beas can best work it into pellets if
given in this way. 1t is no use to
feed it to them inside of the hives.
A piece Of honey comb put with it
in the first place, is useful IN attract
ing the bees to it; after they find it
they will take it strictly until natural
pollen comes in the fields and trees.
We know that in our locality this
feeding Of meal is very important.
We cannot too strongly impress
upon beginners the Importance of at
tending we'll to their stocks when they
are first put on their summer stands.
Every hour of care bestowed on them
now will be repaid largely in the
months to come.