Keep boxes on your hives through this month and next, for surplus honey. Keep down the grass and weeds about the hives.
SEPTEMBER.
In some localities September gives a very good yield of honey. I recollect one season in particular, since I adopted my present system of bee management, when the yield of box honey in September was very remarkable. Some of my hives of bees filled their full set of boxes almost entirely in a few days. I think that it was in considerably less than two weeks, that they finished them up, and they had only a light start—a few small pieces of comb in some of the boxes, and in the others none at all.
Feed at the last of this month, to complete all partially filled boxes, and at the very last of the month, or first of October, feed such swarms as may be deficient of stores for winter, if you prefer to do this rather than to equalize by exchange of comb frames, as directed in another place. If you decide to thus equalize, do it the last of October or the first of November.
OCTOBER.
At the commencement of this month, continue to feed such stocks, if any, as are short of honey, yet are supplied with a good amount of comb in which to store honey. As the yield of honey from flowers closes this month, at its end remove all boxes from the hives. Such as are partially filled with comb or honey may be set in a cold, dry place, and remain for use another year. If placed where they will freeze, and then sealed up carefully, so the moth miller cannot get in, they will be in good condition when wanted next season. Boxes that have comb about a third full or even less, are finished very quickly by the bees. Be sure to keep all such boxes for the next season. You probably have a few queens in your miniature hives. Look over your stocks, and if any are found queenless, or with diseased queens, give them a new and prolific one.
NOVEMBER.
The first of November, if not already done, exchange comb frames, from stocks deficient in stores to winter, with such as can spare a frame of honey. Do this until all have stores sufficient for winter. Twenty pounds of honey will render them safe until you begin to feed in the spring. From the middle to the last of November is usually the time to prepare the hives for winter, by packing with hay or straw, as directed in another place. This should not be done until a few days before steady cold weather sets in. Care should be exercised not to put it off until it is too cold; neither should it be done too early. Be sure to pack thoroughly. Success in wintering depends in a great degree upon thorough work in packing the hives.
DECEMBER.
In this month procure your lumber and all material for making hives, boxes, etc., to be worked up during the winter. If there are small villages or large cities near by, you will find this month a good time to market your honey, if you have any on hand. With a little effort, you can have ready customers for your goods, or at least a portion of it. Honey in glass boxes is in such nice shape, that any one who likes a fine article, will pay a liberal price for it, after they have once tested its quality. In a few years you will have established a trade with ready customers, near home, at remunerative prices.