FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



they are put. If they don't like to stay they don't need to; 

 they'll count somewhere. But as they are mostly queenless bees 

 that are moved, they are not bad about returning. 



DOUBLE HIVES FOR WINTER. 



Not only have I wintered nuclei two and three in a hive, but a 

 few years ago I had considerable experience in wintering full 

 colonies in double hives. If I had not changed from ten-frame 

 to eight-frame hives I should have continued the practice, but 

 an eight-frame hive makes too cramped quarters for two full 



Fig. 104. — Honey-show. 



colonies, even in winter. Still, I approximate it with five frames 

 on one side and three on the other, and of course the hive could 

 be divided to take four frames on each side. 



There is nothing new or original about two colonies in one 

 hive, among others Dzierzoii's twin hives having been highly 

 esteemed by him and others for many years. These, however, 

 are used the same all the year around, and my use of them is 

 only during the time of year when bees can be crowded into a 

 less space than a full hive. 



From the time the bees are fed in the summer or fall, till 

 perhaps the middle of May, most of my colonies would have 



