WINTERING BKES. SCI 



Great loss is often incurred in replacing upon their 

 Summer stands the stocks which have been kept hi special 

 depositories. Unless the day when they are put out is 

 very favorable, many will be lost when they fly to dis- 

 charge their faeces. In movable-comb hives, this risk can 

 be greatly diminished, by removing the cover from the 

 frames, and allowing the sun to shine directly upon the 

 bees ; this will warm them up so quickly, that they will all 

 discharge their faeces in a very short time.* 



After the stocks are placed on their Summer stands,f 

 the precautions already described should be taken to 

 strengthen feeble or impoverished colonies (p. 221). 



* The following is an extract from my journal : 



" Jan. 31st, 1S5T. Removed the upper cover, exposing the bees to the full heat 

 of the sun, the thermometer being 30 in the shade, and the atmosphere calm. 

 The hive standing on the sunny side of the house, the bees quickly took wing and 

 discharged their faeces. Very few were lost on the snow, and nearly all that 

 alighted on it took wing without being chilled. More bees were lost from other 

 hives which were not opened, as few which left were able to return ; while, in tho 

 one with the cover removed, the returning bees were able to alight at once among 

 their warm companions." 



t Dzierzon advises placing them on their former stands, as many bees still 

 remember the old spot. Mr. Quinby uses this time for equalizing the colonies, w 

 he finds that, "being all wintered in one room, their scent is so much alik 

 that they mix together without contention." 



