THOUSAND ANSWERS 87 



A. Don't transfer in winter. Those box-hives most likely have 

 no bottoms; if they have bottoms pry them ofE. Turn the hives 

 upside down, put candy between or on top of the combs, and leave 

 them upside down as long as in the cellar. When I had box-hives 

 I wintered them upside down in the cellar. 



Feeding in Cellar.— Q. What time can bees be fed that are 

 wintered in the cellar? 



A. Any time rather than have them die; but the feeding 

 should all be done before putting in cellar. 



Q. Is there any possible way of feeding bees in a cellar? I 

 think some of my colonies are too short of stores for winter. 



My cellar is rather warm this year on account of a new fur- 

 nace. I have a separate apartment for the bees with plenty of 

 fresh air, but it is still too warm at this date; the temperature 

 keeps up to SS and 65 degrees. The bees are very quiet yet. 



I thought of giving each colony syrup separately in a sort of 

 little tray so arranged that the bees could not drown. Would the 

 bees come to get this syrup, or could it be given in some other 

 way? How and when could it be done so that half of the bees 

 would not rush out of the hives? My hives are put in two rows, 

 one on top of the other, and all of the covers are off. 



A. With a big lot of fresh air for the bees you will likely 

 find that they will winter well at SS or 60 degrees, although they 

 will consume more stores than at a lower temperature. Still, as 

 you say, the increasing cold will bring down the temperature. 

 Better not let it get below 4S degrees. 



If I understand correctly, your hives are raised in front by 

 1-inch blocks, and that makes a space of at least an inch and a 

 half. That allows you to put a shallow dish of feed under the 

 frames, and if your colonies are reasonably strong they ought 

 readily to come down to the feed at SS or 60 degrees. If it is 

 much colder than that and the colonies are rather weak, they will 

 not be likely to come to feed. Instead of the proposed wire screen 

 over the syrup you may do better to cover the syrup with cork 

 chips. You will get these from your grocer. He gets them as 

 packing for grapes in cold weather, and generally throws them 

 away. 



If feeding below does not prove a success, you can feed above. 

 Edwin Bevins reports excellent success with lump sugar. Wet the 

 lumps by sprinkling water upon them, but do not make them wet 

 enough to dissolve the sugar. Then lay the lumps directly on the 

 top-bars over the cluster of bees. 



Feeding for Stimulation. — Q. I want information in regard to 



