FEBRUARY
Very little attention will be required during this month beyond looking to the coverings, and seeing that they be all sound, and that no moisture comes upon the tops of the hives. Towards the end of the month, particular attention must be given at this season in endeavouring to keep the interior of the hives free from damp, which a frequent changing of the floor-boards will tend very much to effect. Indeed, after so long a confinement it becomes necessary, or the health of the stocks will be much endangered.
Feeding.—Food must be liberally supplied; but in so doing much attention must be paid to neatness and cleanliness in its administration, for when syrup is used the greatest care must be given that it be not smeared about the hives and floor-boards, for it will not only cause dampness in the hives, but induce fighting amongst the Bees when they are able to fly abroad.
Let the food be given, if possible at the top of the hive; if at the bottom, not till after sunset, carefully stopping up the entrance of the hive, and removing the vessel in which the food was given before sunrise the next morning; for the appearance of the Aconite and Crocus will not only delight our eyes, and gladden our hearts, but they will also arouse our little favourites to life and activity; and as the supplies of honey from these flowers at this early season will be very small—sufficient only, perhaps, to create a desire for a larger quantity, the feeding-pan, therefore, if allowed to remain at the bottom of a weak hive, will be resorted to by all the Bees of the apiary, causing much fighting and loss of life, and very probably the destruction of the stock in which it had been placed. By feeding at the top, all this may be avoided; not only the trouble of removing the feeding-pan every morning, but the danger and loss certain to arise from fighting.
Stocks.—A careful examination of every stock should be made on a mild day towards the end of the month; and where any doubt exists as to the sufficiency of food in the hive to carry the Bees safely through the spring, a supply should now be given, and I must still recommend barley-sugar (where honey cannot readily be obtained) as the best food that can be given. A good receipt for making it may be found in [page 25]; but it must always be remembered, that where barley-sugar is used as food, the Bees should never be left, even for a day, without a supply, either at the top or bottom of the hive; the former is always preferable. It should be remembered, also, that it is much better to give food before the stock is absolutely in want of it, than to wait till its store of food is exhausted. There are many reasons for this, well known to every practical apiarian.
Promoting Early Breeding.—Binding the hives neatly over with haybands would be as little trouble and expense as anything. The end of the month will be the proper time for trying this experiment; and I have little doubt but, if carefully attended to, the result will prove to be all that is desired. The entrances to the hives, if large, should be reduced, so as to leave room only sufficient for the easy ingress and egress of the Bees.
Water.—It must not be forgotten to place water in the vicinity of the hives, as directed at [page 43].
Enemies.—The chief enemies to guard against at this time are mice and birds; cold; if the floor-boards and hives are dry, affects them but little.
Hives of Comb.—Let the hives of comb in which swarms of the last year have died be carefully preserved for the purpose of putting swarms of the coming season into them. The best method of keeping such hives will be, after having cleared them of the dead Bees, to hang them up in a dry place out of the reach of mice or rats. The advantage which a swarm put into a hive of clean dry comb has over one that is put into an empty hive is very great indeed, and known only to those persons who have experienced it.
Pollen.—By the end of the month our little pets will have begun their labours for another year, in collecting pollen from the Winter Aconites and the early kinds of Crocus, and, if the weather is not very severe, from the Elms also. Some years since I was curious to learn from what a grey or ash-coloured pollen was obtained, which the Bees brought home in rather large quantities very early in the season, at a time when the Aconites only could be seen in flower; but happening to pass beneath some Elm trees on a bright day, to my surprise I heard the hum of Bees, and on looking closely I observed several very busily employed, which induced me to take a branch home, and by comparing under the microscope the pollen, which it shed abundantly on being placed in a warm room, with that brought by the Bees, I found them to be alike, which fully satisfied me in this matter.
Pedestals.—Where the stocks are placed upon pedestals of wood it will be well to look to them, for I have lately heard of some sad disasters arising from the want of this little attention. It is about an inch below the surface of the ground that the mischief takes place, and when once begun, goes on rapidly, except good oak has been used.