THE APIARY. 



357 



DECEMBER. 



Now is the time to make hives, honey-boxes, etc., for the coming year. Also 

 labels for hives. These may just contain the name of the colony, in which case 

 the full record will be kept in a book ; or the label may be made to contain a 

 full register as to time of formation, age of queen, etc., etc. 



I know from experience that any who heed all of the above may succeed in 

 bee-keeping, — may Avin a double success : receive pleasure and make money. 

 I feel sure that many experienced apiarists will find ad-vdce that it may pay to 

 follow. It is probable that errors abound, and certain that much remains 

 unsaid, for of all apiarists it is true that what they don't know is greatly in 

 excess of what they do know. 



REPORT OX THE APIARY. 



Agricultural College. ) 

 Lansing, Michigan, Dec. 1, 1875. [ 



To the President of the College : 



The following is my report as Superintendent of the Apiary : 



Three colonies of bees were placed in the new dej^ository in November, 1874. 

 These seemed perfectly well and healthy till the terribly severe weather of 

 February, 1875, when as a result of the extreme and protracted cold, ice accu- 

 mulated between the combs, and two of the best colonies died outright. The 

 third colony only survived the winter, to perish early in spring. This proves 

 that a house built above ground, with double walls around and above, one foot 

 apart, and filled in with saw-dust or muck, is inadequate protection for a few 

 colonies at least, during so severe a season as that of the winter of 1874-5, It 

 is possible that a large number of colonies would have maintained a sufficiently 

 high temperature. 



In April I procured a colony of black bees in payment for transferring some 

 bees for a neiglibor. I also purchased two colonies of nearly pure Italians, of 

 Mr. 0. Fuller of Mason. 



During the season 1 have prepared a number of places for stands, by digging 

 out the earth to a depth of four inches, and for the space of four by six feet. 

 I then paved this on the bottom with old brick, and filled up to the general 

 level with saw-dust. This makes a smooth surface, so that there is little dan- 

 ger of losing the queen. The brick bottom will prevent the growth of weeds 

 and grass. I prepared eight such places with student labor at a cost of $1.50. 

 I have also made a moth tight box for holding frames of comb. It has a 

 capacity for over 100 frames, and cost for material $1.33, for labor (students') 

 $1.50. I have also built two hives with student labor at an expense of $2.00. 



Pursuant to authority from the board granted at the August meeting, I have 

 prepared a cellar under the bee-house. This has been done entirely by student 

 labor, at an expense of $32.84. The cellar will contain over 50 colonies of 

 bees, is thoroughly drained, and is grouted throughout within. It is hoped 

 and expected that this will be frost-proof, entirely dry, and thus an admirable 

 place in which to winter bees. In this we j)ropose to keep our ten colonies for 

 the winter. The bees were put in the cellar on the 26tli of November. 



