This leaden or zinc trough of Mr. Taylor's exactly resembles in form the feeder mentioned in [page 57].
In the following Summer, when the Bees are working in the side boxes and the glass, the ventilation must be particularly attended to, (for upon this alone depends the success of the hive,) and here I would especially recommend Mr. Taylor's ventilator as given in page 26; a small thermometer should be kept in one of the ventilating tubes, and when it is observed above ninety degrees of Fahrenheit, the covers (bb) must be taken off, and should the temperature of the boxes be found at, or above a hundred, the perforated copper slides at the back of the side boxes must be used, for if it reaches to a hundred-and thirty, a Swarm in all probability will leave the hive, which next to starvation is most fatal to this mode of treatment. When either of the side boxes or the glass upon the top of the centre one is filled with honey and sealed up, introduce the dividing tin; if the glass, remove it immediately thirty or forty yards, from the hive without changing its position, leaving room at the bottom for the Bees to escape, which they will very soon do, but if either of the side boxes are to be taken away, open the copper slider at the back of the box, and in less than an hour from the time of the dividing tin being introduced, the bees will have made their escape and joined the centre box, it may then be removed, emptied and replaced, or another may be substituted for it. All operations must be performed upon a fine and bright day. The entrance to the centre box should be opened to its fullest extent, by removing both the sliders from the first of April till the first of September.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Apiarian s Monthly Manual, or Hints for the Management of Bees for every month in the year, upon the Depriving System.
JANUARY.
Should the cold be intense, no operation whatever should be performed on the Bees that requires the removal of the hives. If snow be on the ground keep the perforated sliders (page 18.) closely down that air may be admitted, but not a Bee allowed to escape until it be thawed; but immediately upon the disappearance of the snow remove the slider, and give them full liberty. I have known many stocks lost by not attending to this precaution, and more especially after a long confinement, do not suffer the snow to melt either upon the covers or hive-boards, but brush it off every day as it falls. Attend regularly to the condenser (page 92) which to boxes with flat roofs is a very necessary and useful appendage.
FEBRUARY.
Upon a mild day in this month let the floor board of each hive be cleaned, and a little food administered, should the stock of honey be very low. See that the coverings be sound, and that no moisture comes upon the top of the hives. Should it be found that any of the hives have perished, which will sometimes occur, and from causes which cannot be exactly ascertained, let them be immediately removed, and the honey which they contain taken out, and reserved for feeding those that may require it.
MARCH.
Clean the hive-boards again, and should any of the stocks require feeding, supply them, attending strictly to the directions given in [Chap. IX]. Towards the end of this month place a vessel, containing water, near the Bees, as directed in page 3. This also will be found a good time to examine the pedestals upon which the hives stand, for after remaining for some years in the ground they are subject to decay at a few inches below its surface, especially if regard was not paid to the quality of the timber at the time of fixing them.