WINTERING bees/ 343 , 



(provision for getting rid of this water should be 

 made when putting down the floor.) 



TIME FOR SETTING OUT BEES. 



The time for carrying out bees is generally in 

 March, but some seasons later. A warm pleasant day 

 is the best, and one quite cold, better than one only 

 moderately warm. 



After their long confinement, the light attracts them 

 out at once, (unless very cold air prevents), and if the 

 rays of a warm sun do not keep them active, they 

 will soon be chilled and lost. ' 



Some bee-keepers take out their stocks at evening. 

 If we could be always sure of having the next day a 

 fair one, it would probably be the best time ; but 

 should it be only moderate, or cloudy, it would be 

 attended with considerable loss — or if the next day. 

 should be quite cold, but few would leave,, and th.en 

 the only risk would be to get a good day, before one 

 that was just warm enough to make them leave the 

 hive, but not quite enough to enable them to return. 



NOT TOO MANY STOCKS TAKEN OUT AT ONCE. 



When too many are taken out at once, the rush 

 &om all the hives is so much like a swarm, that it 

 appears to confuse them. Some of the stocks by this 

 means will get more bees than actually belong to 

 them, while others are proportionably short, which 

 is unprofitable, and to equalize them is some trouble ; 

 yet it may be done. Being all wintered in one room, 

 the scent or the means of distinguishing their own 



