The time will now have arrived for supplying each stock with a small hive or other receptacle for honey, as directed in Chap. 4, and should the season be a favorable one, the supply even of a second may be found necessary before the end of the month. Continue to destroy Queen wasps and hornets, and to watch carefully for moths. Should the bees of any hive appear inactive at this time, or should they not be seen to carry in pellets of farina whilst others are doing it, and this inaction continue for eight or ten days, lose no time in examining the hive, and should the moths have begun their work of destruction, which may be known by seeing the combs joined together by their silken webs, cut away the combs affected with a sharp knife, and the hive may, perhaps, be saved.
JUNE.
Strict attention should now be paid to room and ventilation, for, as has been said in page 24, if both these be carefully observed, swarming may be prevented altogether. Swarms may now be purchased as directed in Chap. II. About the middle of the month, in good seasons, small hives and glasses may be taken off, full directions for which may be found in Chap. V.
At the end of the month look for wasps'-nests and destroy them; a very easy and effectual method of doing it is to fill a common squib or serpent case with a mixture of sulphur and gun-powder, in equal parts, with a very small quantity of nitre all finely powdered and rammed very hard into the case, set fire to it by means of touch-paper, and when in a state of ignition, stick it into the hole of the nest and place your foot upon it, when it ceases to burn let a person with a spade turn out the nest; in this manner a great number may be effectually destroyed in one night.
JULY.
Small hives and glasses must now be taken off as they are filled and sealed up, (and stored in cool places, observing to keep them in the same position as when standing upon the stocks,) and their places supplied by empty ones. Go on destroying wasps'-nests.
AUGUST.
Continue to take off hives and glasses as they are filled, but supply no fresh ones, the honey season being now chiefly over.
SEPTEMBER.
Small hives remaining upon the stocks that are only partially filled with honey may now be taken off, providing the stock will not be too much impoverished thereby; wherever the chance of this presents itself leave them on through the winter, or until they are emptied by the bees; those partially filled hives taken from rich stocks may be given to weak ones, now, or in the spring as required. Robbers will at this time be carrying on their depredations, and should a serious attack be observed the sliders must be used as before directed.