268 A Modern Bee-Farm 



Greenhouses, coal-stoves, paraffin stoves and lamps ; all 

 of these have I brought into requisition, and in the light of 

 past results all are condemned. 



A joyous sight though it was to an enthusiast to stand in 

 summer heat at mid-winter and watch the hundreds of busy 

 workers at the artificial pollen, and rushing with their loads to 

 the hives as though they made sure summer was upon them. 



But judged by the stern light of facts it remained a pleasant 

 experiment only, for of what value were those stocks after the 

 excessive unseasonable loss of life and consequent failure to 

 pick up when the second and real summer approached ? 



And yet artificial heat gave me some of the most forward 

 stocks I ever possessed — they were up strongly in the supers 

 by the end of April. But it was not until March was well on 

 the way that they were placed upon and carefully packed 

 round with long stable manure. They did well right along, 

 and being almost exempt from all outside changes there was 

 nothing to hinder their very rapid progess. 



While I am not an advocate of double packed walls in 

 winter, nor such arrangement even for summer, yet where 

 shade is provided by an independent outer case during hot 

 weather, \'ery great progress is made by the bees. 



Mr. Cheshire has repeatedly pointed out that queens 

 should be reared artificially instead of using those raised 

 under the swarming impulse, if we wish to diminish the 

 inclination to swarm. But I go a step farther and breed from 



