344 



WINTEEIKG. 



the season was one of the very best, as is usually the case 

 after the other extreme. 



In the State of Vermont 1869 was a very favorable 

 season. In 1870, we purchased thirty colonies there, and 

 moved them to our own apiary at St. Johnsville, N. Y. 

 Ten of these we used for the trade, and devoted the re- 

 mainder to surplus, of which they gave us more than the 

 170 swarms which we had wintered. I mention this 

 merely to illustrate the contrast in results from bees that 

 winter well, and those that are weak and feeble in spring. 



In all manipulations at this season, great care should be 

 observed not to injure the queen, as it is essential to suc- 

 cess that each colony begin the winter with a perfect, pro- 

 lific queen. Holes should be made with a knife through 

 each comb for the bees to pass through, from one to 

 another, without being obliged to go around the outside. 

 This is especially necessary if they are to be wintered 

 out-of-doors. Thimbles of tin, about '/^ inch in diame- 

 ter, placed in the comb, are useful for this purpose. 



Where the Quinby hive with the large case is used, the 

 frames may be prepared for wintering in-doors, by plao- 

 ing them upon a 

 small bottom- 

 board, with a quilt 

 or mat covering the 

 entire top, and the 

 panels at the sides, 

 as in fig. 99. These 

 may be arranged 

 early in the fall, and 

 left standing in the 

 outside case, until 

 it is time to put 

 them in. The out- -^'S- 99.— ^kames "kepared fob winter. 

 side case is left on the summer stand. The quilts 

 may be made of unbleached muslin, and should con- 



