. British bee journal & bee-keepers adviser. Bees. THE. tt Jflttptl, [No. 47. Vol. IV.] MARCH, 1877. [Published Monthly.] fflinttitfal, IMas, $t. MARCH. The month of March is usually a ' trying ' one to the apiarian, and following an unusually mild February, which has thrown all bee- keeping rules and regulations out of gear, and deluded the bees into acting as if mid-April had arrived, it is likely to be a time of con- siderable difficulty and vexation. The early spring flowers have appeared much earlier than usual, and fruit-trees, that ought not to have shown a blossom before near the e
. British bee journal & bee-keepers adviser. Bees. THE. tt Jflttptl, [No. 47. Vol. IV.] MARCH, 1877. [Published Monthly.] fflinttitfal, IMas, $t. MARCH. The month of March is usually a ' trying ' one to the apiarian, and following an unusually mild February, which has thrown all bee- keeping rules and regulations out of gear, and deluded the bees into acting as if mid-April had arrived, it is likely to be a time of con- siderable difficulty and vexation. The early spring flowers have appeared much earlier than usual, and fruit-trees, that ought not to have shown a blossom before near the end of this month, have, by the geniality of the climate, been tempted in many instances to unfold themselves in the middle of the past month, stimulating the bees into excessive breeding, and endangering the prospects of both the fruit and the honey growers, for should a frost set in the blossoms and the brood, equally the grounds of hope, may be blighted. The feeding of light stocks has been a necessity, but stimulative feeding to promote and encourage breeding, will, should the bugbear frost ensue, but add to the dangers of the season. Wo hear of hives ' in splendid condition,' and ' breeding like mad ;' and the argument that, ' now bees are gathering pollen, and consequently breeding, it cannot be wrong to encourage it,' has cropped up from many places; and we are sorry to know that artificial pollen, and gentle feeding with syrup, have been the consequence of the unwholesome argument, and probably the cause of the untoward prosperity (?) of the bees. Weirht of Stocks.—It is never safe at this season to judge of stocks by their weight, except when they are very light, and then feeding is absolutely necessary, and should be at once proceeded with, but when heavy the bee-keeper should satisfy himself of what the weight consists. It may happen that stimulated by the in- coming of pollen and nectar, no matter whether naturally or artificially supplied, and encour- aged by the
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