THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



93 



pans with a piece of old comb near, for the 

 bees to work upon. We place the pans 

 on old newspapers, else the bees will scat- 

 ter the flour over the ground and gather 

 up much dirt with it. 



ANSWERS BY J. E. POND, JR. 



1 . Contract to the size of colony, that 

 is, leave only as many frames of comb as 

 the bees can cover fairly. Close top of 

 hive tightly so as to get rid of all upward 

 ventilation. Pack tops with quilts or 

 blankets, so as to retain all heat generated. 

 The moisture thus caused will save the 

 trouble of leaving the hive for the water 

 needed for brood. If there is an ample 

 amount of stores, uncap a few cells daily; 

 if not, feed just enough to support bees 

 and brood. Handle the frames just as 

 much as is actually necessary and no more. 



2. Yes, sometimes. I am in doubt, 

 however, whether anything is gained by 

 so doing unless the spring is severely cold. 

 I have had good results from leaving the 

 full complement of frames in a ten frame 

 L. hive. 



3. I do not contract the entrance ex- 

 cept to prevent robbing, except with a very 

 small colony. The entrance should be 

 proportioned to the size of the colony 

 always. The full width for ten well cov- 

 ered frames; a smaller number in propor- 

 tion. 



4. I don't take much stock of late in 

 so-called stimulative feeding, as I find but 

 little is gained by so doing. If the hives 

 contain stores in plenty, brood rearing 

 progresses as rapidly as is economical. If 

 there is lack of stores, feed enough to sup- 

 ply the wants and needs of the colony. 



5. I have done so; if I had frames of 

 comb containing pollen I should give them 

 in preference. I have found at times that 

 bees will take flour — rye preferably — and 

 that freely; at other times they will not. 

 No harm is done by feeding it, and good 

 may result, so as a rule I should advise it 

 till natural pollen is being gathered. 



My April treatment of my bees will de- 

 pend largely upon the season, and their 

 condition. I can give no rigid rule, as I 

 use none. The general principles shown 

 in above answers, if followed, will give 

 good results ; at least they do so with my- 

 self. 



ANSWERS BY G. W. DEMAREE. 



I. Your question, or rather compound 

 question, is one of practical import, and 

 hence of deep interest to all of us. 



I winter my bees pretty much in the 

 same manner each season. They are left 

 in at the close of the honey harvest. If 

 they have plenty of stores they are not in- 

 terrupted at all. Early in March, if the 



weather will admit of handling bees, I ex- 

 amine every colony, being very careful 

 not to irritate the bees more than can be 

 helped. The hives are cleaned out if 

 they need cleansing, and the colony is lo- 

 cated in the south side of the hive. Cover 

 all with a dry, warm quilt and newspaper 

 over that, and weight down wilii some 

 boards or shingles to confine the warm air. 

 I regard this as being of much consequence. 



2. No. I have discontinued that prac- 

 tice. A good, straight comb is as good a 

 division board as I can get. 



3. If the colony is under size, I do to 

 one or two inches. 



4. I do not feed unless the bees are short 

 of stores. Extracted granulated honey 

 rolled in coarse flour and laid on the frames 

 under the quilt. Oil cake meal is the most 

 powerful substitute for pollen that I have 

 tried. 



5. Yes, if there is warm weather before 

 natural pollen is to be had. 



ANSWERS BY IRA BARBER. 



1. I do not protect them from cold to 

 induce brood rearing, and have never 

 had any fears but what they would rear all 

 the brood necessary to keep them in a 

 flourishing condition. 



2. I never contract the brood chamber, 

 or used division boards. 



3. I have two fly holes in all hives, and 

 close the upper one in all hives that do not 

 occupy all the combs from side to side, and 

 top to bottom. 



4. I do not feed to stimulate brood rear- 

 ing, until about ten or fifteen days before 

 clover bloom. At that time, there is always 

 a dearth of flowers in this section, and a 

 large portion of the colonies will by this 

 time have all the honey consumed, that 

 was left after wintering, and if not fed, 

 brood rearing would soon cease. I would 

 use the lump feeders, and keep the bees 

 feeding as well as possible until there is 

 something for them to do. If the feed is 

 given as thin as they will take it, no robbing 

 will follow, nor will they store more than 

 is required for immediate use. I prefer 

 maple sugar for this purpose. 



5. I do not give flour, as we have plenty 

 of pollen whenever our bees can fly to 

 gather it. My bees are in the cellar as a 

 rule, until the last of April or first of May. 



ANSWERS BY HENRY ALLEY. 



I. After having a good flight, I would, 

 as soon as the weather is warm enough to 

 do so without injury to the bees, thoroughly 

 cleanse the hives of all dead bees and 

 mouldy combs, or whatever might be det- 

 rimental to the health of the colony. 

 Would stop all upward ventilation and pro- 



