SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 8l 



the queens in the colonies you wish to unite, kill all others some time during 

 tlie day you wish to unite them, and at the same time inspect all the weak 

 colonies closely and see how many strong colonies they will make, or how 

 many colonies you want to make out of them; then cut enough pieces of 

 screen wire the same size of the hive (or a little larger would be better) 

 to go between each two hives to be united. Then later in the afternoon, when 

 all bees are in, remove the covers from the hives you wish to remain on 

 their stands, and put a sheet of wire over it ; then lift a hive gently from its 

 bottom and set it on top of this one ; and if there is to be another hive united 

 with these, remove the top from it and put a sheet of wire over it and set 

 another hive on it. Now there is nothing but wire between each two colonies 

 of bees, and they will at once begin to acquire the scent of each other. Be 

 sure that you have one of the choice queens in one of these hives thus pre- 

 pared. 



Now let the bees remain thus over night, next daj', and the next night; 

 then early in the morning they are ready for uniting. Slip the wire out from 

 between each hive and give them a good smoking through the entrance of the 

 bottom hive, and the bees will all run together; then in fifteen or twenty 

 minutes' give them another good steady smoking and they will not know one 

 from another; but watch them for a while to see that they do not get to 

 fighting ; but it is not likely that they will ; and if they do, give them another 

 good smoking, and this will unite them. Let them remain thus until the fol- 

 lowing day, then put the frames of brood and choice frames of honey all 

 in one hive, and you will have a good strong colony of bees which will be 

 ready for the approaching honey-flow. The frames of comb and hives left on 

 hand can be used as the apiarist may see fit, but should be left in the care 

 of the bees if the weather is warm. There are too many weak colonies tol- 

 erated in the South, and the plan of uniting should be adopted. 



WINTERING BEES. 



Bees will winter safely on their summer stands anywhere in the South; 

 but they should be properly provided with stores, for they will consume con- 

 siderable honey during the warm spells which come often during even our 

 coldest months. Then in the early part of winter, or very early in spring 

 our earliest pollen and honey plants will begin to bloom, and bees will begin 

 to spread their brood more rapidly, and consume stores fast, for the flow 

 which may be on will be very light and at intervals. If bees get a setback 

 at this critical time it will be a hard matter to get them over it before our 

 heavy honey-flow in the spring ; so bees must be supplied with plenty of stores 

 when they are put up for winter to expect the best results from them during 

 the spring flow. Of course, it is best to put them all up strong colonies for 

 winter ; but weak ones, and two, three, or four frame nuclei will winter safely 

 almost anywhere in the South if they have plenty of stores. 



Bees should not be wintered on the north side of a building nor where 

 they will not get the full benefit of the sun during the winter ; for it is very 



