Burying Bees. 303 



I have found it advantageous, when preparing my bees for 

 winter, in October, to contract the chamber by use of a divis- 

 ion-board. This is very desirable if wintered out doors, and 

 with frames a foot square is very easily accomplished. By use 

 of eight frames the space (one cubic foot) is very compact, 

 and serves to economize the heat, not only in winte ^ but in 

 spiBOg. By thus using division-boards with only three frames 

 I have been very successful in wintering nuclei. AVe have 

 only to guard against low temperature. 



Pea-haps I ought to say that all colonies should be strong in 

 autumn; but I have said before, never have weak colonies. 

 Yet for fear some have been negligent, I remark that weak 

 colonies and nuclei shoidd be united in preparing for winter. 

 To do this, approximate the colonies each day, four or five 

 feet, till they are side by side. Now remove the poorest queen, 

 then smoke thoroughly, sprinkle both colonies with sweetened 

 water scented with essence of peppermint, put a sufiicient 

 number of the best frames and all the bees into one of the 

 hives, and then set this midway between the position of the 

 hives at the commencement of the uniting. The bees will 

 unite peaceably, and make a strong colony. In case of nuclei 

 I usually unite three for winter. Uniting colonies may pay 

 at other seasons. It may seem rash to some, yet I fully believe 

 that if the above suggestions are carried out in full, I may 

 guarantee successful wintering. But if we do lose our bees, 

 having all our hives, combs, and honey, we can buy colonies in 

 the spring with a perfect certainty of making 200 or 300 per 

 cent, on our investment. Even with the worst condition of 

 things, we are still ahead, in way of profit, of most other 

 vocations. 



BUEYING BEES, OE CLAMPS. 



In principle this is the same as cellar wintering. There are 

 two serious objections to it. First, we do not know that the 

 temperature is just right, and secondly, if aught goes wrong 

 we know nothing of it — the bees are away out of sight. If 

 this is practiced, the ground should be either sandy or uell 

 drained. If we can choose a side-hill it should be done. 

 Beneath the hives and around them, straw should be j)laced. 

 I should advise leaving the entrance well open, yet secure 

 against mice. The hives should all be placed beneath the surface 



