176 MONEY IN" BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



material (so-called "butter-muslin" folded in four 

 thicknesses answers well) into glazed earthenware vessels, 

 and let these stand near the kitchen fireplace during the 

 process of fermentation which will commence within 

 twenty-four to forty-eight hours, according to the ruling 

 temperature, and continue for ten or twelve days, or 

 longer, according to the season of the year. The vessels 

 should be secured from dust by means of tin covers 

 pierced with holes to admit free access of air. Skim off 

 the frothy scum and stir the contents with a stick once a 

 day, to promote the powers of active fermentation, and 

 when this has nearly ceased, i.e., when the liquor, after 

 being stirred, forms only a light froth on the surface 

 which soon subsides of itself, it will be fit for bottling. 

 Strain carefully into perfectly clean bottles, by means 

 of a tin dish in which is placed a fresh straining cloth 

 (four folds of butter-muslin) ; cork securely with sound 

 corks well driven in and tied down with twine or bottling 

 wire. Keep the bottles in a dry, cool place. The beer 

 may be used three or four days after bottling, but is 

 better if kept standing for a week or two, and, if the 

 working has been properly attended to, will only improve 

 by several weeks ' keeping. 



PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING. 



PROTECTION METHODS. 



The bees should be prepared for winter during the 

 autumn. One can hardly do this too early if there is 

 no flow and the weather is rough and boisterous. In 

 Australasia the winters are sometimes very warm and 

 more or less honey is gathered. In these circumstances 

 the hives remain much the same as they were in the 

 summer. Normally, there is not a great deal of honey 

 stored after March and April, so the colonies may be 

 safely prepared for winter. 



