1082 



BSE- CULTURE. 



find it more convenient to do so, while the ground is now kept 

 clean before the hives, so as to furnish no obstacle to the entrance 

 of the honey-laden bee. 



Bee-hives should always be put in shady places, facing the south. 

 As stated, such are the improvements in hives that they are now 

 built in compartments, to enable the taking out of. extra hopey, yet 

 leaving enough for the winter's subsistence. 



A point also of great importance is that the entrances of the 

 hives should not be larger than is necessary for. the throngs of work- 

 ers to pass in and out ; but care should be taken that every bee has 

 room, so that there is not toc\ much jostling, crowding, and waiting 

 for one another. 



Preparing Bees for Winter. 

 In preparing bees for winter, the first thing is to be sure that 

 there are bees enough in each hive to winter. If there are not, unite 



swarms until 

 every one is 

 strong. It would 

 not be advisable 

 to winter any col- 

 ony unless it 

 would cove> easily 

 as many as four 

 Langstroth 

 frames; If the 

 swarm has not as 

 many as four good 

 .combs, they must 

 be supplied w\th 

 comb foundation 

 and made to build 

 them out. If they 

 are to do it in September, it must be attended to in time. Let 

 the spaces be closed by chaff division boards until there is just easy 

 room for the four frames, put in the foundation where the combs 

 are lacking, and feed the bees every night from half a pint to a 

 pint of food. When the hive is opened, which shoujd be done every 

 day or two, the bees should be found rearing brood, building comb, 

 and getting, full of bees, precisely as they do in June. Granulated 

 sugar is advisable for winter food — about half a pound every night 

 until the combs are full. Wherjr the combs are all covered they are 



Fig- 1465. — Folding Bee-hive Tent. 



