APPENDICES. 339 
the hive which produced the largest quantity of honey last 
year was wintered in this way. Condensers I have tried, 
but give the preference to crown-boards without them. I 
am trying the quilts this winter on some of my hives, but 
must reserve my opinion about them until later on.* I gene- 
rally supply my bees with plenty of food in the autumn, so 
that they require no further attention until about the end 
of February, when, if the weather is fine, the bees are all 
thoroughly roused into activity, and induced to commence 
and to continue breeding until the honey-gathering season 
commences, by which time every frame in the hive is filled 
with brood, and the hives are so strong that it is easy to 
make an artificial swarm, and to ensure a good supply of 
honey besides. If the weather is fine about the end of 
February (or if cold then, I defer it a little longer), the bees 
are transferred into clean hives; and in this way I get to 
know the exact state of the community. Now, suppose it is 
a ten-frame Woodbury hive, I do not return the whole of 
the eight frames which the bees had for wintering on, but 
only from five to six of the centre ones, and contract the 
size of hive to the six frames. I then unseal the honey- 
cells of two of the frames, and allow the honey to run down 
inside the hive. This thoroughly rouses the bees; and the 
queen at once begins to lay. The running honey is very soon 
collected and stored; and in a few days I[ do the same with 
a couple more frames, and so on, until all the frames have 
been unsealed. I find this a great advantage, as much of the 
honey that has granulated, and which the bees will not touch, 
is removed by them out of the hive, and gives them increased 
space. 
I now commence very gentle feeding, for which purpose 
I use the very fine strainers found in Loysell’s coffee-per- 
colators, and allow each hive from a quarter to half a pint 
*We have written to Mr. Cowan in respect of this matter, and 
received the reply that he sees neither the great objection that some 
do to these appliances, nor yet the indispensability attached to them by 
others. In his more recent paper quoted under “ Winter Management,” 
it will be seen that he has recurred to their use, though under a modified 
arrangement (see page 98). 
zZ2 
