OR, MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 465 



be too late than too early. In Central Michigan, April 15th is 

 usually early enough. I repeat : Better too late than too early. 

 The colonies are put each on its own stand, and each hive well 

 cleaned out. Each colony should have plenty of honey. Scant 

 stores in spring always bring loss, if not ruin. We now take 

 away extra frames of comb, giving the bees simply what they 

 will cover, but always a good amount of honey. A frame of 

 pollen taken away the previous autumn may also be added. 

 We close up about the bees with a division-board, and cover 

 warmly above by adding a chafF-filled super. 



If we give abundant stores, I am not sure but for strong 

 colonies a full set of frames and board above, which, however, 

 must fit very snugly, is as good as a chaff covering or chaff- 

 hive. For the simple Heddon-L,angstroth hive, however, I 

 think a warm cloth under the cover is very desirable. I tried 

 some colonies in this way in two springs, and was pleased with 

 the results. I am not yet sure but it is always better to cover 

 with chaff, sawdust or leaves ; but we must give plenty of honey, 

 and perhaps we must cover warmly and snugly, to win the best 

 success. I always thought so in the past, but now I am in 

 doubt. Even if better, it may still prove more profitable to 

 give plenty of honey, and let the hives alone, with a full set 

 of combs in each. This saves much time. Geo. Grimm and 

 my brother have long practiced this and have succeeded. 



Perhaps I ought to say that all colonies should be strong 

 in autumn ; but I have said before, never have weak colonies. 

 As before stated, a colony need not be very large to winter 

 well; but they should be strong, in possession of a good queen, 

 and the proper proportion of young and vigorous bees. Yet 

 for fear some have been negligent, I remark that weak colonies 

 and nuclei should be united in preparing for winter. To do 

 this, approximate the colonies each day, four or five feet, till 

 they are side by side. Now remove the poorest queen, then 

 smoke thoroughly, sprinkle both colonies with sweetened water 

 scented with essence of peppermint, put a sufficient number of 

 the best frames, alternating them as taken from the hives, and 

 put all the bees into one of the hives, and then set this midway 

 between the position of the hives at the commencement of the 

 uniting. Shaking the bees in front of the hive also tends to 



