4d 3IANUAL 01* THE APIAEY. 



the straw falling ont. T]}is is not only an excellent absorbent, but preserves' 

 the heat, if allowed to remain, till the following June. 



I have found it advantageous, when preparing my bees for winter, in October, 

 to contract the chamber by use of a division board. This is very desirable if 

 wintered out doors, and with frames a foot square is very easily accomplished. 

 By use of eight frames the space (one cubic foot) is very compact, and serves 

 to economize the heat, not only in winter, but in spring. 



Perhaps I ought to say that all colonies should be strong in autumn. But I 

 have said before, never have weak colonies. Yet for fear some have been neg- 

 ligent, I remark that weak colonies should be united in preparing for winter. 

 To do this, approximate the colonies each day four or five feet till they are side 

 by side. Ifow remove the poorest queen, then smoke thoroughly, sprinkle both 

 colonies with sweetened water scented with essence of peppermint, putting a suf- 

 ficient number of the best frames and all the bees into one of the hives, and. 

 then set this midway between the position of the hives at the commencement of 

 the uniting. The bees will unite peaceably, and make a strong colony. Uni- 

 ting of colonies may pay at other seasons. It may seem rash to some, yet I 

 fully believe that if the above suggestions are carried out in full, I may guaran- 

 tee successful wintering. But if we do lose our bees, with all our hives, combs, 

 and honey, we can buy colonies in the spring, with a perfect certainty of making 

 300 or 400 per cent, on our investment. Even with the worst condition of 

 things, we are still ahead, in way of profit, of most other vocations. 



FOUL BROOD. 



Just here it is very proper to speak of this dreaded disease. This disease, 

 though it has occurred in our State as well as in States about us, is not familiar 

 to me, I having never seen but one case, and that on Kelly's Island, the past 

 summer, where I found it had reduced the colonies on that Island to two. 



The symptoms are as follows ; Decline in the prosperity of the colony, be- 

 cause of failure to rear brood. The brood seems to putrefy, becomes black and 

 gives ofE a stench which is by no means agreeable, while later the caps have a 

 little hole through them. So far, the cause is obscure, though the disease seems 

 to be gendered by feeding upon the honey. 



It is stated by some that transferring the bees to an empty hive, and prevent- 

 ing brood-rearing till all the honey conveyed in the bees' stomachs is consumed, 

 is a cure. In this case the honey from the old hive must be kept from all the 

 bees, or the spread of the disease will be certain. Others advise total destruc- 

 tion of affected colonies, honey, hives, and all. The disease is a very serious 

 one, and the symptoms should be understood by all, that its spread may be pre- 

 vented. More, the whole subject should be investigated by the most competent 

 scientific authorities. What better work for the bee-keepers of our country 

 than to memorialize Congress on this subject. 



ALL SHOULD KEEP ONLY IXALIAKS. 



The advantages of the Italians, which have been already considered as fully 

 as necessary, are more than sufficient to warrant the exclusion of any other bees 

 from the apiary. Truly no one need to be urged to a course that adds to the 

 ease, profit, and agreeableness of his vocation. 



HOW TO ITALIANIZE. 



From what has been already explained as to the natural history of bees, it 



