146 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



They need it, even if wintered in a 

 cellar. There has been too much 

 written about wintering a colony of 

 bees on five or ten pounds of honey. 

 Beginners miscalculate under such 

 advice, aud think that because bees 

 consume but little in the summer that 

 but little is needed at all Bees must 

 have an allowance of fifteen pounds of 

 honey to consume from the time of 

 frost in the fall until housed for the 

 winter Then fifteen pounds allow- 

 ance while in confinement. Then 

 fifteen or twenty pounds for breeding 

 in the spring when it is too cold for 

 them to fly. 



With the above allowance a colony 

 will be increasing in numbers while 

 those on short allowance will be 

 dwindling. Some would scarcely be- 

 lieve the facts if they could see the 

 effects of liberal allowances of sealed 

 honey in the fall. They would be 

 almost sure to attribute it to some 

 other cause. If fall honey could not 

 be sold at any price there would be 

 none taken from the bees, and we 

 would see a wonderful advancement 

 in the bee business everywhere. If 

 bees work hard in the fall they be- 

 come old and restless and will not 

 winter well. 



Some years ago my business was 

 such as to call me away from home 

 most of the time from August 1st un- 

 til October 1st, leaving my bees with 

 only one case of sections on each 

 hive, and there was a good flow of 

 honey from buckwheat and many 

 other fall flowers, so much iu fact that 

 my bees not only filled their hives 

 and cases, but some built comb on the 

 under sides of their hive shades. 

 People would gaze in amazement to 

 see the hives so covered with bees. 



The bees hung through all those days 

 and months and were apparently as 

 young when put in winter quarters 

 as when first hatched. Their hives 

 were very heavy, but I never had my 

 Vices winter so nearly perfect as 

 they did that winter. There seemed 

 to be as many bees in the hive the 

 following spring as when put in the 

 cellar. I do not see how all of the 

 bees got into the hives anyway. But 

 what a cr p of honey I raised the 

 next season. Yes, it was a big one. 

 The colonies were so strong they 

 seemed to carry all before them. Of 

 course we winter colonies on less 

 stores, but it is as poor economy to do 

 so as it would be to winter cattle on a 

 a short allowance and turn them out 

 iu the spring early to pick for them- 

 selves. Cattle raised that way are 

 the dearest that can be raised, although 

 they briug the least money. None 

 but the rich could stand such farming 

 and none but the rich can afford to 

 own a poor farm. 



In like manner is everything. Poor- 

 est quality is sure to bring poverty. 

 How would a Christian look trying to 

 squeeze through the gates of Para- 

 dise? 



Dear friends, again I say, don't 

 work your bees to death in the fall or 

 rob them of their stores, and your 

 bees will be in such good shape in the 

 spring you will be glad you heeded 

 my advice. 



Ovid, Erie Co., Pa. 



Prepare for Wintering. 



BY STANTON K. HITCHCOCK. 



Before the middle of this month all 

 preparations should be made for win- 

 tering. Every colony should be' 

 closely examined to find out the 



