26 THE BEE-KEEPERS* REVIEW 



It is not surprising that many bee-keepers prefer cellar winter- 

 ing- in the dark and with plenty of ventilation. The temperature 

 factors have not been considered of such prime importance, although 

 43° Fahrenheit is thought to be favorable. A bee-keeper then need 

 do little for his bees except attend to the ventilation and otherwise 

 prevent them from becoming uneasy. 



In January the bee-keeper should take account of stock and 

 clean up material not in use. The cold makes propolis brittle. 

 With a putty knife or other scraper it chips from the hive easily. 

 Hives, frames, supers, fences, in fact all equipment, should be put 

 in clean readiness for spring. Painting can also be done to advantage. 



It should be remembered that discounts on supplies are usually 

 available at this season. Hence purchases for the coming season 

 can be made to advantage. 



If unused combs are stored, they should be fumigated. Carbon 

 bisulfide, used with caution (it is dangerously explosive) is most 

 satisfactorv. 



JANUARY — Southwestern States. 

 By Henry C. Barron. 



The Land of "Sunshine and Honey." Thermometer 75° to 

 100° Fahrenheit at midday. 20° to 40° midnight. 



Bees on their summer stands. Walk through the apiary at least 

 once every day to see all is right. 



See to it that all withered grass and other combustible material 

 is cleaned up and removed, thus preventing fires and loss. 



Bees will fly about twenty-five days out of the entire month. 



The entrances should be closed down in proportion to the size 

 of the colony, say ^ by 1 inch for a nuclei or small swarm to 3/^ by 

 5 inches for a strong swarm. 



Keep the bees as quiet as possible, and do not under any cir- 

 cumstances open a hive, as the flying bees will pounce upon it, 

 robbing ensue, with perhaps serious results. 



With all care, robbing may occur this month, and if so, close 

 down entrance to ^4 inch for perhaps entirely for day or two) and 

 wipe hive with coal oil. 



It is presumed that by first of this month you have received 

 your supplies for the coming season. You can now have time to 

 carefully make up your hives, supers, frames, etc., sections made, 

 putting in its foundation and stacking up the supers so that no dust 

 will get in. It will more than pa}^ to dip the dovetailed ends of 

 hives and supers into linseed oil for several minutes before nailing. 

 Will have tendency to overcome checking of the wood. 



