44 HIVES. 



as from hives much larger ; also, there is room for honey 

 sufficient to carry the bees through the winter, at least, 

 in many sections south of 40 degrees latitude, where 

 the winter is somewhat short. 



SIZE FOR WARM LATITUDES. 



This size will also do in this latitude (42 degrees,) 

 in some seasons, but not at all in others.* Not one 

 swarm in fifty will consume twenty-five Ibsi of honey 

 through the winter, that is, from the last of September 

 to the first of April, (six months). The average loss 

 in that time is about eighteen lbs. ; but the critical 

 time is later ; about the last of May, or first of June, 

 in many places. 



LARGER HIVE MORE SAFE FOB LONO WINTERS OR BACKWARD 

 BPRIN&. 



* About the first of April they commence collecting 

 pollen and rearing their young; by the middle 

 of May all good stocks will occupy nearly, if not 

 quite all, their brood-combs for that purpose, but liiile 

 honey is obtained before fruit blossoms appear ; when 

 these are gone, no more of any amount is obtained 

 until clover appears, which is some ten days later. 

 (I am speaking now particularly of this section ; I am • 

 aware it is very different in other places, where dif- 

 ferent flowers exist.) Now if this season of fruit flow- 

 * When Mr. Miner wrote his manual recommending this size, 1728 

 inches, for all situations, it should be remembered he lived on Long 

 Island. Since removing to Oneida County jn this State, either hia 

 own experience or some other cause has changed his viewer as he now 

 recommends my size, viz., 2000 inches. 



