After the winter: 50 hives. I lost nine. Age. My back. I decided to keep fifty and not buy new. Tilek is 21 and studies in Talas but comes on weekends. He says he will take the apiary when I cannot. I told him to learn first.
Papa says I must start with the bees, not with myself. So: the first warm day was on Friday, 4 May, and the bees came out of the winter house in a cloud. They flew in circles to see where they are, then went back in, then came out again. He stood at the door with the smoker and watched them like a father watching children go to school.
Papa says: "Count the dead ones on the ground. Fewer than last year. That is the answer."
He lost 4 hives of 62 over the winter. He is not happy and not unhappy. This is a good number.