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.
MARCH.
Our little favourites, by the appearance of the early spring flowers, and the return of milder weather, are again aroused into life and activity; but it must always be remembered that the most trying time for them is from the middle of February to the end of March; for none but well-stored stocks can bear up against the great inequality betwixt the internal demand and the external supply of this period. The winter, to be sure, has been very cold, which is generally in their favour; for but little, if any, evil is to be apprehended from a cold winter, though much may arise from a mild one; as, during the latter, the stock of honey is often exhausted, from its inducing the Bees to be in action, without affording them any resources beyond their own stores.
Diseases.—This is the month in which dysentery and other disorders make their appearance amongst the Bees; but cleanliness and timely supplies of food are the best remedies, and which are always found to prevent it.
Spring-feeding, however, must be done sparingly; for if the Bees have had a sufficient winter's supply, feeding will only be required on a small scale, and to those that are weak, it being chiefly intended as a stimulant to promote early breeding. A hive that has less than 5 lbs. of honey in it is a weak one.
The importance of feeding is very great; for languor and death, says Dr. Bevan, are less frequently to be ascribed to disease than to the want of timely food.
Hives.—The time has now fully arrived for all careful apiarians to possess themselves of as many hives, glasses, boxes, bee-dresses, &c., as they are likely to require during the coming season; and to those who prefer the use of straw hives I would say (and that most emphatically), Never put a swarm into an old hive. Mr. Huish has said, and with much truth, that old hives are generally so overrun with vermin of an obnoxious character to Bees, that, even should the swarm condescend to remain in them, the ensuing winter will place the hive in such a ruinous state, that the Bees will forsake it in search of a more salubrious domicile, or the contents of the hive will be destroyed by the insects. Boxes that have been already tenanted should be cleaned most carefully, and boiling water from the spout a tea-kettle poured over the joints where the eggs of the wax moth—that redoubted enemy of the Bees—will very probably have been deposited.
Haybands.—I have put in practice, with my own Bees, what I recommended last month—namely, covering some of my hives with haybands. The good, should any be found to arise from it, in promoting early breeding, shall be communicated in due course.
Cleaning Floor-boards.—When performing this operation, should the hives be found to be at all damp or mouldy, take the precaution of raising them a little for a few hours on a dry day.