THE BEE-KEEPERS* REVIEW 61 



benumbed some bees, and will injure the colonies in some apiaries 

 quite considerable. 



It is the strong belief of the writer that bees in these states 

 should be provided with double w^alled hives, not only to guard 

 against sudden cold waves, but to modify the heat in the summer 

 time, especially so for the benefit of the comb honey producer. It 

 is also noticeable that the bees in these hives will build up more 

 rapidly in the spring. 



Has any bee-keeper that is located in a hot dry temperature 

 had experience with the red wood hive as to its checking or lasting 

 qualities, by simply oiling it thoroughly — no paint being used? 



FEBRUARY— New England and Eastern United States. 



By Bl'rton X. Gates. 



Assistant Professor of Bcc-Kecping, Massachusetts Agricultural College, 



Amherst. Mass. 



This is the season for indoor work. Alake sure that your stock 

 is ready for spring. It will not be many weeks when bees com- 

 mence to fly regularly. 



When you see the bees bringing in the first abundance of pol- 

 len, you may be relatively sure that brood rearing has commenced. 



Look out for colonies which may have died. Listen at the hive 

 or watch on the first day that bees fly. If a colony has died, imme- 

 diately close the entrance and remove the entire hive to a building 

 beyond the reach of bees ; disinfect 3-our combs to prevent the rav- 

 ages of bee moths. If the colony was healthy, these combs will be 

 useful to hive early swarms upon. If every bee-keeper would thus 

 prevent robbing out dead colonies, the scattering of bee diseases 

 would be materially reduced. 



Now is a good time to render wax. All the scraps and bits of 

 wax collected during the year can be turned into money. Look into 

 the approved methods of wax rendering, whereby you procure from 

 90% tO' 94% of the wax. There is a great question as to whether it 

 pays to render material by old methods, securing only a small per- 

 centage of wax. It would pay to save out white combs and render 

 them separately, as there is little residue. The wax thus secured is 

 highly prized by dentists and pharmacists, and has been known to 

 sell from loc to $L00 a pound. Bright w^ax also may he put up in 

 small cakes and sold by the gross to notion stores or dry goods 

 stores for household use. 



The remnants of the honey crop should be disposed of. Tiy to 

 use up the remainders of cartons and hone}^ receptacles so that next 

 year you can start with a new stock. Bee-keepers are beginning to 

 think of an attractive carton and to discard the old type of straw 

 board, poorly printed and unattractive carton, for one which has 



