REPOET or THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 335 



dcred iu the boles, tlirongh vrliieh tlie bees enter the feeder, and a raft 

 or Uoat made of thin strips of wood supports the bees when taking their 

 food. 



We have also devised a fixture for use in the brood-chamber in the 

 body of the hive, which serves a variety of uses and proves well atlapted 

 for the purposes for which it is designed. 



it cousists of a wooden frame of the size of those used for brood- 

 frames, the strips of which it is made being three-eightbs of an inch 

 thick and 2 inches wide. Parallel with the top bar of the fi-ame I sus- 

 peiKl three tin troughs, one above another. These troughs are 1^ 

 inches wide and 2 inches deep, and the length corresponds with the in- 

 side measure of the frame. Beginning li inches below the top bar, tlie 

 troughs are suspended, 1 inch apart, by means of a small screw from 

 tbe inside of the end of the trough entering the side bar of the frame. 

 The first trough next to the top bar has a partition, one-liftii being in- 

 tended to contain water, and the remainder is used to supply honey or 

 sirup. The second trough is used to supply pure wax shavings, and 

 the third is used for supi)lyiug flour or meal as a substitute for pollen. 



These troughs should be painted and sanded inside and out, as bees 

 do not readily get a foothold on the smooth tin. The trough for food 

 and water is supplied with lloats to prevent the bees from drowning. 



This fixture, sup}»lied with food, salty water, shavings of pure, bleached 

 wax, and flour, I place in the center of the colony as early in the spring 

 as it is desired to stimulate brood-rearing, in order that the colonies may 

 bo strong iu numbers when the blossoms appear. We use this device 

 also for supplying wax shavings in the body of the hive when surplus 

 honey is being stored above the frames, and if floats are supplied for 

 each trough it makes an excellent inside feeder when feeding sirup j^rc- 

 paratory to winter. The wax used is clarided and bleached in the usual 

 manner and shaved with a sharp knife. If very thin comb-foundation 

 with shallow walls be used in the sections, a superior quality of comb 

 will be quicldy built. 



The advantages to be gained by using such a device when building 

 up colonies iu the spring, or during the working season, when time is 

 honey, will be appreciated b}' those who give it a trial. 



WINTERING BEES. 



Each of the diCFcrout methods of wintering bees, whether in cellars, 

 in houses, or upon the summer stands, has its advocates among experi- 

 enced and progressive apiarists. Success by any method depends largely 

 upon the proper observance of a variety of conditions. Failure to com- 

 l)]y with essential conditions brings failure by any method. 



The lack of water during long confinement has been accredited with 

 due consideration as a prime cause of the frequent severe losses in win- 

 ter. Observation and experience suggest the inquiry as to whether as 

 many bees do iu)t perish each winter from the lack of water as from the 

 lack of food. 



In the northern half of the United States bees are often confined to 

 the hive continually from one hundred to one hundred and fifty days. 

 Frequently the siillering from thirst is intense, as is evidenced by the 

 bees going from frame to frame, visiting every comb and uncapping the 

 honey in search of water. 



Wo have frequently observed these chips of cell capping distributed 

 all the way through the pile of dead bees iu the bottom of the hive, and 

 ou the bottom board, showing that the bees were suffering for water 



