342 WINTERING AND SPRING DWINDLING. 



and severe atmospheric changes; much, also, on the length 

 of the AVinters, which vary so much in different latitudes, and 

 the forwardness of the ensuing Spring. In some of our North- 

 ern States, bees will often gather nothing for more than six 

 months, while, m the extreme South, they are seldom de- 

 prived of all natural supplies for as many weeks. In all our 

 Northern and Middle States, if the colonies are to be win- 

 tered out of doors, they should have at least twenty-five 

 pounds of honey. 



In movable-frame hives, the amount of stores may be easily 

 ascertained by actual inspection. The weight of hives is not 

 always a safe eriterionj as old combs are heavier than new 

 ones, besides being often over-stored with pollen. (263.) 



624. Practical bee-keepers usually judge of the amount of 

 stores by sight. The majority of combs in an ordinary Lang- 

 stroth hive should be at least half full of honey, for outdoor 

 winteriiag, in this latitude. Remember that food is needed, not 

 only to carry them through the Winter, but also to help them 

 to raise brood largely, during the cold days of early Spring. 

 Bees do not waste their stores, and the wealthy colonies will 

 usually be found stronger, and better prepared for the follow- 

 ing han'est. 



Enthusiastic beginners, in Apiculture, are apt to overdo ex- 

 tracting, leaving too little honey in the brood-chamber for 

 Winter. If the bees are not actually crowded with honey, 

 we would advise them to leave, to strong colonies, all the 

 honey that the brood-chamber contains. Some may think that 

 nine or ten heavy Quinby frames, are too many for a colony, 

 for they may be wintered on six or seven. We will here give 

 a bit of our experience on that point : 



625. About the year 1875, in an apiary away from home, 

 where we were raising comb-honey, we had a number of 

 swarms, which, in the rush of the honey-crop, we did not 

 examine until their combs were built. At that time, the 

 triangular bar (319) was the guide principally used, and the 

 combs of some of these swarms were joined together in a 



