ALEXANDER'S WRITINGS ON PRACTICAL BEE CULTURE 9 



how damp the cellar 18, providing you have a good mat on top of every 

 hive; or a good piece of heavy duck will answer If you have not the 

 mats, and then raise them about an Inch oft the bottom-boards all 

 around. 



Don't take them out In the spring until there Is something for them 

 to work on. We have noticed for several years that the first colonies 

 we put into the cellar are the last to be taken out, and they are our 

 best colonies nearly all summer. Heretofore there has been about ten 

 days' difference In the time of putting in the first and the last, and about 

 the same length of time in taking them out. Now we have a new cellar 

 in our bee-yard so handy that two men can put away nearly 800 colonies 

 in a day, and disturb them but very little. 



In regard to this wintering problem, in order to be successful there 

 are a few things that must work in harmony together. First, good 

 stores; total darkness; perfect quiet, and an even temperature of about 

 45. If any of these are lacking It may be necessary to give them a 

 chance to fly earlier than we otherwise should, in order to save them 

 from wasting away badly in the cellar; then when spring comes, do all 

 you can to keep them warm and promote early breeding. 



At this time they require man's help more than at any other time 

 of the year; and if you expect to be successful, there must be no let-up 

 until every hive is crowded full of bees and maturing brood. Yes, I 

 mean all that that implies, and a great deal more; for you should now 

 have a fine lot of young queens ready to make whatever increase you 

 may desire; but if you do not understand rearing good queens then 

 you had better buy what you need from some party that can be relied 

 on to furnish you good stock. 



don't BA.BBEL HONEY DIBECT FBOM THE EXTRACTOK. ~ 



Now as to barreling up extracted honey, as some advise, right from 

 the extractor. This is something I can not endorse. If one is very 

 careful it might do; but with some careless honey-producers it is liable 

 to do much harm. Even if of good quality when extracted there will be 

 a little scum rising to the top after a few days. This, if left In the 

 barrels, gives it a bad appearance, and many times hurts Its sale. Then 

 If there should be a little thin honey In the barrel this will also rise to 

 the top and have a tendency to ferment. Here is one of the reasons 

 why we have always used large storage-tanks. With them, whatever 

 rises to the top can easily be skimmed off; and in drawing off from the 

 bottom of our tanks we get only the thick pure honey of the finest 

 quality. We are sure that. In giving this part of the business special at- 

 tention, as we do, it has much bearing on the ready sale we find for all 

 we can produce. If you expect to make bee-keeping a success, you must 

 look close to all these things. Don't be afraid to give a dollar's worth 

 of good honey for every dollar you receive from a customer; for If you 

 are, your customers will soon find It out. 



