SECRETARY'S REPORT. 319 



cage. Place her between two combs in the hive ; let her remain 

 for twenty-four hours ; then daub her with honey and let her in 

 with the bees. They will readily accept her. 



" The question is often asked, Wliat do you do with the bees 

 in the queen-raising hives in the fall, when you get through 

 raising queens ? I take a common-sized hive, and put into it 

 two or three combs, with honey sufficient for the bees for at 

 least four weeks. I prefer a cold day. Now I take the bees 

 from the queen-raising hives, and brush them with a wing from 

 their combs into this common-sized hive. As the weather is. cold, 

 and they have no queens, they will mix without quarreling. 

 Later in the fall, when it is freezing cold through the day, I take 

 not only these bees, but all bees which I may have saved for 

 this purpose, when I " take up swarms " and put thcni into my 

 stock hives which I intend to winter. Previous to this, I have 

 examined all my stock hives, and know just which ones need 

 these surj^lus bees. 



" I introduce them in this way. I commence first with the 

 hive that is most convenient, and lift off the honey board ; now, 

 with my hand or a small tin dipper, I put one quart, more or less, 

 according to circumstances, of these surplus bees on the top of 

 the frames, directly over the cluster of bees in the stock hive, or 

 hive No. 1. I now put on the honey board, shut the hive, and 

 proceed in the same way with stock hives Nos. 2, 3 4, &c., 

 until your surplus bees are all used up. The weather is such 

 that the bees are too cold and stupid to fight, but will all mingle 

 together as one swarm. By this practice you not only save all 

 your surplus bees, but it is often found that some of your stock 

 hives which have plenty of honey, have not sufficient bees to 

 maintain the necessary heat in the hive for successful wintering ; 

 consequently they would die only as you add to them from these 

 surplus bees. By adding these bees they come out in the spring 

 a strong, healthy swarm. 



" It is not advisable to attempt wintering swarms, that you do 

 not know to be strong, free from all disease, and that have plenty 

 of honey. It is from such swarms that we get our profits, and 

 they require the least care, and will winter under most any cir- 

 cumstances — even in the open air, without extra protection. So 

 will a strong, healthy cow winter by a haystack with nothing- 

 more for a protection ; but would it not be best, after all, for 



