SUITED TO COLD CLIMATES. 367 



FEBRUARY. 



What has been said of January, applies equally to 

 this month. No water* should be placed within the 

 hive at any time, unless the bees are confined and 

 forced to breed during warm weather. It is soon 

 enough in the season for them to have water, when 

 they can go forth and obtain it themselves. 



* I am aware that Mr. Langstroth and others have attempted 

 to show that water is indispensable to the health of bees during 

 the winter, as well as in the spring and summer. In this I differ 

 with them, and will give my reasons. First: honey and pollen 

 constitute perfect food for the bee ; they will even live for months 

 on honey alone, though both seem required when rearing brood. 

 Although commencing to breed in January, only a limited amount 

 of brood is found till they commence flying out in the spring. 

 This is as it should be, for if breeding is greatly extended at aa 

 unseasonable time, much damage is liable to result from a sudden 

 cold spell occurring. That bees will take water when placed con- 

 tiguous to them, or even lick up the condensed moisture on the 

 sides of the hive, is true; but that is no proof that they need it, 

 for it is well known that this is their practice for removing liquid 

 substances offensive to them. It is also well known that in a 

 hive having proper ventilation, which will prevent the condensa- 

 tion of moisture on the sides, the bees remain dry and enjoy 

 superior health, and are found to multiply more rapidly than if 

 not well ventilated. And further : bees carry but a limited amount 

 of water when they first gain their liberty in the spring, and the- 

 demand for it gradually increases till the period of swarming, 

 after which time the quantity rapidly diminishes, so that after the 

 first of September but few bees are found to visit watering places. 

 The different management of bees by different parties who shipped 

 them from New York to California, is proof in point ; those who 

 did not water or feed any during the voyage succeeded much 

 better than those who did so regularly : this was the result as tried 

 side by side on board ,the same ship. 



