2 56 BEE MANIPULATION. [Ch. v. 



have tried several plans. '\\'ith the above I have always 

 been free from mouldy combs. I have also tried winter- 

 ing without crown-boards, by merely placing an empty 

 super on the top, and I have done so successfully — in 

 fact, 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 with- 

 out them. I am trying the quilts on some of my hives, 

 but must reserve my opinion about them until later on. 



" I generally 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 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 a little longef) 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 Wood- 

 bury hive. I do not return the whole of the eight frames 

 ■which the bees had for mntering on, but only from five 

 to six of the centre ones, and contract the size of the 

 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 



