268 SELECTING COLONIES FOB AVINTEK. 



shsiTjic and size, (viz. : 2000 cubic inches) full of combs, 

 well stored with honey, a large family of bees, and freedom 

 from disease, which must be ascertained by actual inspec- 

 tion. The age is not important, until they are ten years 

 old. Stocks possessing these essentials can be wintered 

 with but little trouble. But it cannot be expected that 

 all will be in this condition. Many bee-keei^ers wish to 

 increase their numbers and would like to keep all that they 

 can, practicably. Many deficiencies can be supplied, with 

 a little attention, and I shall endeavor to show that it is 

 profitable to do so vmtil the number of bees kept is too 

 great for the sujjply of honey. 



All can understand why it is a loss for bees to eat honey 

 part of the winter and then die — that the honey consumed 

 might have been saved, and that it makes no great differ- 

 ence to the bees, whether they are killed in the fall, or 

 starve in the winter. I am not an advocate for fire and 

 brimstone as the reward of all unfortunate stocks, and 

 shall recommend it only when it is unavoidable. We will 

 see how far it can be dispensed with. 



DISADVAKTAGE OF KILLtNG BEES. 



Those rustic bee-keepers who are in the habit of making 

 their hives large enough to hold from 100 to 150 pounds, 

 killing the bees in the fall, and sending the honey to 

 market, will probably continue the use of sulphur, unless 

 we can convince them that it is far better to make the hive 

 smaller, and have ' fifty or eighty pounds of this honey in 

 boxes, which will sell for more money, and at the same 

 time save their bees for stock hives. "When the hives are 

 of the proper size, the honey is not equivalent in value to 

 the bees. 



CAUSE OP POOR COLONIES VAKIES IN DIPFEIIENT SECTIONS. 



The particular deficiency of weak stocks depends some- 

 what on the section of country. Where the principal 



