BEE KEEPING. 97 



east, three inches above the ground, on bricks ; this keeps 

 the hives dry and at the same time allows the bees an oppor- 

 tunity to walk up to the entrance should they be blown aside 

 when alighting with a load. Crowd the bees somewhat in 

 the early part of the season to maintain the natural heat. 

 This can be done by the use of division boards. Keep all the 

 colonies strong-, uniting- for this purpose, if necessary. As 

 the weather gets warmer and the brood hatches, give more 

 room ; when bees are found working on the outside combs, 

 put on a super. As soon as the honey flow starts in earnest, 

 give plenty of room, either by extracting or adding additional 

 stories to the hive to prevent excessive swarming. Handle 

 only in the evening this will largely prevent robbing. 



HOW TO WINTER. 



On the experimental farm we have tried many different 

 ways of outside wintering, viz : With coverings of chaff, 

 sawdust, snow and mixtures of all these, but have failed with 

 all of them and now winter altogether in a cellar. We see 

 that each hive has 30 Ibs. of honey, and remove to the cellar 

 as soon as we think winter has fairly set in ; place the hives 

 in a fairly dry cellar with a temperature as near to 45 above 

 zero as possible. The openings are protected from mice by 

 a piece of coarse wire netting and -a piece of bagging under 

 the cover ; the cellar is kept as dark and quiet as possible. 



If the above plan is adopted bees will generally winter 

 well. 



I would like to say here that there is room for a great many bee- 

 keepers in this Province. If you once take up the study you will find 

 it very profitable and it is a business in which all classes, to a large 

 extent, can take part ; those living- in the city as well as those living- in 

 the country. No matter how small a garden plot you have there is 

 always room for bees. There is no fear of being- stung- if you handle 

 them carefully. There is one good thing about the bee, he will never 

 sting without giving warning and if you are acquainted with the 

 language of the bee you can always tell when they are cross. The bee 

 will fly in a different manner when it is going to sting ; it will dart 

 and strike and not fly quietly along. 



