188 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTUEE. 



cells to the comb of the queenless colony as near the center of the hive as pos- 

 sible in a vertical position, and the ■work is done, the bees being only too glad 

 to do the rest. It will soon be a queen cell and produce a queen as good in every 

 respect as one raised in the natural Avay. The experiment has often been tried 

 and proved successful. 



If, however, you find that the queen is on duty, and become satisfied that she 

 has been abi'oad, then all is well, and but little further attention need be given 

 the old colony except to give it an occasional glance to see that it is all right, 

 and to remove and replace boxes as fast as they are filled. 



But little remains for the apiarist to do from this time until the honey season 

 is over. "When the flowers are killed by tlie frost and the natural resources of 

 the bee cut off, having removed all honey boxes, feed heavily. Place syrup 

 made with sugar and water everywhere about the ])remises, keeping the bees to 

 work as long as the weather will permit, overcoming in this manner the dispo- 

 sition to rob one another, and induce the queen to keep breeding besides supply- 

 ing any deficiency that may be required to carry them through the winter. 



The probability is that the bee seldom if ever freezes to death ; but that frost 

 is indirectly the cause of the destruction of many colonies of bees, there can be 

 no doubt. The great trouble in wintering in the open air is water collecting 

 on the comb by the respiration of the bee condensing and becoming frozen and 

 remaining so for a protracted period, thus preventing the bee from feeding. 

 The cells containing the honey being as hermetically sealed as if placed in a glass 

 jar with the top screwed on, ultimately causing the death of the bees by starving. 

 To guard against this as far as possible, give plenty of A-entilation, especially at 

 the top of the hive, leaving the entrance to the upper chamber of the hive open 

 for that purpose, an opening made into that by boring an inch hole and cover- 

 ing with wire cloth, thus giving a chance for the damp air to escape before it 

 becomes frozen to the comb. I have practiced this method for the last ten or 

 twelve years with good success. 



In regard to wintering in cellars, if one has a good dry cellar that can be 

 devoted entirely to that purpose, Avhere the temperature would not vary materi- 

 ally from about three degrees above the freezing point, none need fear to place 

 bees there, for the best results may be expected, and almost surely follow. But 

 before placing them in the cellar where the winter supply of vegetables and pro- 

 visions of the family are stored, hesitate a little. The burnt child dreads the 

 fire, and perhaps I cannot say anything more to the purpose than to give my 

 own experience. 



Some eighteen years ago I thought I would like to try the experiment of keep- 

 ing bees. One of my neighbors having a hive of bees that he wished to dispose 

 of, I purchased it and commenced operations. It gave me two very respectable 

 swarms during the season, besides about thirty pounds of surplus honey in boxes 

 that I placed on the top of the hives. They were not rack hives. I felt some- 

 what elated over my success. I had read in some book on the bee that to secure 

 the best results one must winter bees in the cellar, so Avhen the cold days came 

 on, I consigned them to their quarters in the cellar under my house, and thought 

 all was Avell. About the first of February I visited them, tapped on the hives, 

 and got a faint response. I thought things were progressing finely, and said, 

 " Sleep on, little birdies, it is storming without and cold. When the warm days 

 come and the blossoms apjaear, we will take you out in the air. When recuperated 

 by your long rest, you can go to work with a will." About the last of March, 

 the weather being warm, and noticino; some bees flving around, I thought I 



