THOUSAND ANSWERS 25 



Q. Which is better, to have the bottoms loose on the hives, or 

 have them nailed on? 



A. The best way is to have the bottom fastened to the hive by- 

 means of staples, so that you can remove it at any time you like. 

 I wouldn't have a bottom that could not be fastened on, and a 

 bottom that couldn't be taken off readily would be worse still. 



Q. How would it work to use the same depth of bottom- 

 board under the frames, seven-eighths in winter, and close the 

 entrance down to three-eighths inch by a strip of wood for out- 

 door wintering? What size of entrance would you use here? 



A. It would be all right. Deeper than seven-eighths would be 

 still better for the bottom-board, but I would not care to have 

 the entrance more than three-eighths, and perhaps not more 

 than four inches wide. 



Bottom-Boards, Dust on. — Q. I have noticed on the alighting- 

 boards of two or three of my colonies a substance resembling 

 sawdust. What is this? I winter my bees outside in small sheds 

 packed with straw. The sheds face the south. 



A. That brings vividly to mind the first year I wintered bees, 

 when I was alarmed to find under the bees and at the entrance 

 something that looked like a mixture of coffee grounds and saw- 

 dust, and I didn't know but what it was "all up" with my bees. 

 An old beekeeper quieted my fears by telling me it was nothing 

 worse than the bits of the cappings that the bees dropped when 

 unsealing the honey. Your bees have the same "disease." 



Box Hives. — Q. In June I found a large swarm of bees and put 

 them in a shoe-box, not having any beehive. I have left them in 

 the shoe-box, and I think there must be about 100 pounds of honey 

 in it, as it is all that I can do to lift it. What is the best way to 

 get a portion of this honey without damaging the bees or 

 their winter supply? What is the best way to keep bees over 

 winter? My cellar is rather cold, and slightly damp. Would it do 

 to keep them there? (Illinois.) 



A. It is very doubtful whether you can take any honey away 

 without badly damaging the chances of the bees for safe winter- 

 ing. Better leave it until spring, or until next summer, after the 

 bees have swarmed. They will not waste it, and you can get later 

 what honey they can spare. If they were in a movable-comb hive 

 you could safely take the honey now. 



You are in latitude 41 north, or a little more, and in Illinois 

 that's nearly the dividing line between outdoor and cellar winter- 

 ing, with mostly cellaring. But if your cellar is damp and cold, 

 and there is no way to warm it, you may do better outdoors. 



