344 WINTERING BEES. 



from. This serves to insulate each cell from adjoin- 

 ing cells, and when full of honey, they are non-con- 

 ductors; and hence the animal heat is retained. 



Comb continues to improve and does not reach the 

 best condition to insure the perfect health of the bees 

 until it is two years old. They will continue to do 

 well with the same combs ten years, though a partial 

 exchange at suitable intervals of old for new increases 

 their prosperity. New comb containing honey is to 

 some extent a conductor of heat, and is liable to crack 

 and sweat under the influence of frost or moisture. 

 Feeding in this condition invariably produces dysen- 

 tery, if not soon relieved by fine weather. Large 

 swarms are always desirable for wintering as stock 

 hives, yet if small ones are to be kept over they will 

 live and thrive with old comb, while swarms of equal 

 strength and the same amount of stores, with new 

 comb, will perish. 



WHERE KEPT DURING WINTER. 



Bees have their points of compass, and can work 

 from and to a hive as the farmer does from and to 

 his house ; and hence, if in a suitable place, they 

 should remain upon the same stand winter and sum- 

 mer. 



Winter repositories, such as cellars or dark rooms, 

 have been used and recommended by some of the 

 most eminent apiarians in the United States and Ger- 

 many. 



