MANUAL 01' THE APIARY, 249 



tube the size of one's finger may be driven through the comb, 

 and left in if desired, in which case the comb should be 

 pushed out. of the tube, and the tube be no longer than the 

 comb is thick. This perforatory work I always do early in 

 October, when I extract all uncapped honey, take out all 

 frames after I have given them the 30 lbs., by weight, of 

 honey, confine the space with a division-board, cover with the 

 quilt and chaff, and then leave undisturbed till the cold of 

 November calls for further care. 



SECURE LATE BREEDING. 



Keep the bees breeding till the first of October. Except 

 in years of excessive drouth, this will occur in many parts 

 of Michigan without extra care. Failure may result from the 

 presence of worthless queens. Any queens which seem not 

 to be prolific should be superseded whenever the fact becomes 

 evident. I regard this as most important. Few know how 

 much is lost by tolerating feeble, impotent queens in the 

 apiary, whose ability can only keep the colonies alive. Never 

 keep such queens about. Here, then, is another reason for 

 always keeping extra queens on hand. Even with excellent 

 queens, a failure in the honey yield may cause breeding to 

 cease. In such cases, we have only to feed as directed under 

 the head of feeding. 



TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN THE PROPER TEMPERATURE. 



We ought also to provide against extremes of temperature. 

 It is desirable to keep the temperature between 35° and 50° 

 F. through the entire winter, from November to April. If 

 nt) cellar or house is at hand, this may be accomplished as 

 follows : Some pleasant dry day in late October or early No- 

 vember, raise the stand and place straw beneath ; then sur- 

 round the hive with a box a foot outside the hive, with 

 movable top and open on the east ; or else have a long wooden 

 tube, opposite the entrance, to permit flight. This tube 

 should be six or' eight inches square, to permit easy 

 examinatior in winter. The same end may be gained 

 by driving stakeb and putting boards around. When we 

 crowd between the box and the hive either straw, chaff, or 

 shavings. After placing a good thickness of straw above the 



