bee-keeper's calestdae. 551 



left on the hives till October, as they are safer from the moths, 

 when in care of the bees. 



If no Fall supplies aboimd, and any colonies are too light 

 to winter with safety, then, in the Northern States, the latter 

 part of this month is the proper time for feeding (608) 

 them. We have already stated, that it is impossible to tell 

 how much food a colony will require (623), to carry it 

 safely through the Winter; it will be found, however, very 

 unsafe to trust to a bare supply, for, even if there is food 

 enough, it may not always be readily accessible (631) to 

 the bees. Great caution will still be necessary to guard 

 against robbing; but if there are no feeble, queenless or 

 impoverished colonies, the bees, unless tempted by improper 

 management, will not rob each other (664). 



888. October. — Forage is now almost entirely exhausted 

 in most localities, and colonies which are too light should 

 either be fed, or have surplus honey from other hives given 

 to them, early this month. 



The extracting cases (781) should be removed previous to 

 cold weather, as some bees may cluster in them and starve. 

 These eases must be piled up carefully in the coldest room 

 (810) of the honey house, safe from mice (816). The 

 exact condition of every hive should be known now, at the 

 latest, and, if any are queenless, they should be broken up. 

 Small colonies ought to be promptly united. 



The honey-selling season is now at hand, and from this 

 time till the end of the holidays, the producer must look 

 for a honey market. He should not only rely on sale in large 

 cities, for they are always crowded, but a home market must 

 be cultivated (840). 



889. November.— The hives should now be put in Win- 

 ter quarters, the quilt removed, and absorbents placed in the 

 upper story (636). 



All possible shelter should be given (635). For cellar- 

 wintering (646), the time of removing the bees should be 

 at the opening of cold weather. The later in the season that 



