A YEAR'S WORK IN AN OUT-APIARY 55 



is to open the hive and take out one, two, three, or four of their nearest 

 empty combs, and give them as many heavy ones from the reserve plle^ 

 In giving heavy combs of sealed honey at this time of the year I thlnlf 

 it better to alternate them with the light ones which the colony haS; 

 where more than one are given, as I consider such alteration more in 

 harmony with good wintering. Of late I have been trying a little 

 different plan where colonies are light in stores, which is, to set the 

 heavy combs of honey next to one side of the hive, but having just 

 one light comb next to the wall of the hive. Suppose I am to set in 

 three heavy combs. I first take out three that are the nearest empty, 

 shaking the bees from them. I now draw one of the light frames next 

 to the side of the hive, when the three heavy frames of honey are put 

 in. This brings the outside of the cluster in touch with the first heavy 

 comb of honey; and as soon as they are in need of more food than 

 that contained in their light combs they begin to move over on the 

 heavy ones. Thus the cluster moves toward their stores all winter, 

 and never starve. With stores equally divided on either side of the 

 cluster, that being in the center, it often happens that the cluster 

 moves toward one side; and when the honey on that side is consumed 

 they fail to cross over to the opposite side, and so starve with plenty of 

 honey in the hive, but seemingly out of their reach. 



Having the bottom-boards all turned, and knowing that all colonies 

 have plenty of stores, I next fasten all the bottom-boards to the hive by 

 driving a crate-staple on either side, with one point going into the hive 

 and the other into the bottom-board, as near the center as is convenient 

 with rapid working. Some seem to think that it is better to use one 

 of these staples at each corner, and this may be so where hives are to 

 be hauled from the out-apiary home for wintering, and back again in 

 the spring; but for carrying to the cellar, and setting out again, the 

 carrying being done by two men and a rope, the two crate-staples are 

 amply sufficient. In driving these staples I find that a hand-ax, or 

 something having a driving-face sufficiently large to cover the whole 

 staple at each blow, thus driving both points at the same time, is much 

 better than an ordinary hammer that drives only one point at each 

 blow. 



With the driving of the last staple the work done at the eleventh 

 visit is accomplished, as well as that for the year, except setting the 

 bees in the cellar. As the day still continues fine, we take another 

 roundabout road for our ride home, where we arrive in due time, feeling 

 that the day has been very profitably spent, even though we have con- 

 sumed the most of it on the road. 



