254 MAN0AL OP THE APIARY. 



with all our hives, combs and honey, we can buy colonies in 

 the spring, with a perfect certainty of making 200 or 300 per 

 cent, on our investment. Even with the worst condition of 

 things, we are still ahead, in way of profit, of most other 

 vocations. 



BURYING BEES. 



Another way to winter safely and very economically, is to 

 bury the bees. If this is practiced the ground should either 

 be sandy or well drained. If we can choose a side-hill it should 

 be done. Beneath the hives and around them, straw should 

 be placed. I should advise leaving the entrance well open, 

 yet secure against mice. The hives ehoiild all be placed 

 beneath the surface level of the earth, then form a mound 

 above them sufficient to preserve against extreme warmth or 

 cold. A trench about the mound to carry the water ofi^ 

 quickly is desirable. In this arrangement the ground acts as 

 a moderator. Five colonies thus treated the past winter, 

 (1877-8) lost all told less than one-half gill of bees. As this 

 method has not been so long tried, as the others, I would 

 suggest caution. Try it with a few colonies, till you are 

 assured as to the best arrangement, and of its efficacy. I am 

 •inclined to think that it is next to a good snow-bank, as a 

 winter repository. 



SPRING DWINDLING. 



As already suggested, this is not to be feared if we keep 

 our bees breeding till late autumn. It may be further 

 prevented by forbidding late autumn flights, frequent flights 

 in winter, when the weather is warm, and too early flying in 

 spring. These may all be curtailed or prevented by the pack- 

 ing system as described above, as thus prepared the bees will 

 not feel the warmth, and so will remain quiet in the'^ hive. 

 Nine colonies which I have packed have been remarkably 

 quiet, and are in excellent condition this, February 25th, 

 while two others unpacked have flown day after day, much, 

 I fear, to their injury. I would leave bees in the packing 

 till near May, and in the cellar or ground, till early flowers 

 bloom, that we may secure against too rapid demise of bees in 

 spring. 



