on the Honey See. 189 



the comb was bounded by glass, whilst here the bees might lie 

 between two combs. I therefore did not disturb them in their 

 work, but let it proceed ; much to my astonishment, however, 

 the bees have invariably deserted tliis division of the hive on the 

 approach of winter. 



To resume — during the months of September and October the 

 bees seemed much to diminish in numbers ; but this apparent 

 loss was more seeming than real, owing to the bees clustering 

 more closely together; still the number was gradually diminishing, 

 but no dead bees were to be found in the hive. 



The month of November altered the aspect of the stock ; the 

 bees were evidently sinking into a state of torpidity, and those on 

 the outside of the cluster began to fall to the bottom of the hive. 

 Possibly if the bees had been lying between two combs they woidd 

 not have fallen ; they could not hold on the glass, and when they 

 lost their hold of the comb and fell to the bottom, the coldness of 

 the air chilled them, so that they could not again crawl up the 

 comb. During this period the space of about an inch and a half 

 round the queen was always kept at a warmth perceptible to the 

 hand through the glass; when, however, a day of sunshine came, 

 most of the bees at the bottom of the hive revived, and thus the 

 danger of a dwindling exhaustion of numbers to death seemed to 

 be averted. During the last week of November, however, it 

 became quite apparent that some artificial means must be resorted 

 to for the purpose of preventing the bees lapsing into this torpid 

 state. Under ordinary circumstances this state of torpidity might 

 be safety ; but with so much glass in the hive, which must be 

 warmed, as well as the atmosphere of the hive, on the return of 

 the spring it was quite clear that the stock would be absolutely 

 starved to death long before the sun could exercise any influence 

 sufficient to resuscitate the stock. 



This state of the hive caused me great anxiety, and after much 

 consideration I determined to try the effect of the administration 

 of food* in small quantities. I therefore each evening gave them 

 a small portion of food for the purpose of rousing the bees into 

 activity; not for the want of food was it supplied, but simply to 

 prevent the bees from sinking into a state of torpidity. Immedi- 

 ately after the food was supplied the heat of the hive was always 

 increased from the cominotion it caused, and the few bees which 

 from day to day fell to the bottom of the hive, in a great measure 

 revived from this increased heat: thus far my experiment suc- 

 ceeded. This system was continued during all the months of 



• Honey slightly diluted with water, adding a little sail. 



