190 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



protection to bees in severe winters. The seeds of con- 

 sumption, and other diseases of the human frame, have 

 been sometimes sown at a date more ancient than we 

 think about ; and so the " bad luck " of many bee-keepers 

 in the summer time could be traced to their bad manage- 

 ment during the winter time. Warmth as well as dryness 

 for bees in winter is of prime importance in every apiary 

 in which profit is sought. 



If hives be not cosOy covered in autumn, the honey in 

 them soon candies or crystallises ; and after this crystal- 

 lisation takes place, the honey does not last so long, that 

 is to say, less of liquid honey serves a hive than when it 

 is in a candied state. 



About the end of September, when aU stocks have re- 

 ceived some additional bees, and feeding if necessary, they 

 should be neatly plastered to their boards with mortar 

 mixed with cow-dung, and then covered up as has now 

 been described. The doors of the hives are contracted at 

 this time, as has been mentioned elsewhere. No more 

 attention is necessary for five or six months, save that of 

 keeping the bees inside their hives when snow is on the 

 ground. But here let us say that bees breathe and re- 

 quire fresh air in winter as well as in summer, and hence 

 care and thoughtfulness are required in closing theii 

 doors to keep them in. Bees in a wooden hive soon 

 perish if their door be closely shut. Bees in straw hives 

 will be suffocated too if their doors are closely shut for 

 some time, especially if their hives have been crowded 

 in autumn by the addition of extra swarms. Forgetful 

 and inexperienced people would do well to use fly-proof 

 wire or perforated zinc for keeping bees inside their hives 

 while snow is on the ground. And during long storms, 

 the lives of very weak hives may be preserved by taking 



