464 THS bbb-kbbper's guidb ; 



of November — the bees are carried into the cellar. This would 

 better be done carefully, so as not to disturb the bees. Yet I 

 am not sure that such disturbance is any special injury. To 

 prevent the bees from coming out in case of disturbance, the 

 entrance-blocks must close the entrances. Dr. Miller uses wet 

 cloths to effect this. 



In the cellar the hives should rest a foot from the bottom, 

 and may rest on each other, breaking- joints, the weakest colo- 

 nies at the top. When all are in, and quiet, the entrances are 

 opened wide. I would (if it were not for the expense, and I 

 had loose bottom-boards so that I could) place a rim under each 

 hive so as to raise it two or three inches above the bottom- 

 board. Except for the open entrance, I give no special venti- 

 lation to each hive. Now we shut our two or three doors, and 

 if our cellar is right we have no more care for the bees till the 

 succeeding April. Should the bees become uneasy and soil 

 their hives about the entrance — they will not if the food is all 

 right and the temperature keeps at the right point (from 38 

 degrees to 50 degrees F.) — then it may be well to put the bees 

 out for a flight in February or March, in case a warm day 

 affords opportunity. In case there is snow, a little straw may 

 be scattered over it. The day must be quite warm. It is far 

 wiser to have our cellar right so we shall not need to do this. 



If the bees get short of stores in winter — this would show 

 great neglect on the part of the bee-keeper — they should be 

 fed " Good candy," cakes of which may be laid on the frames 

 and covered with cloth. Frames of honey or syrup, filled as 

 already described, may be given bees in mid-winter. The idea 

 that bees can not be examined in winter is incorrect. Frames 

 may be taken out or added, though it were doubtless better to 

 leave the bees undisturbed. The cellar should be dark and 

 quiet. If everything is just right, light does no harm ; but if 

 it gets pretty cold or too warm then the bees become uneasy 

 and fly out, never to return. Some bees always leave the hive 

 in winter. These are veterans, and are ready to die. Thus, 

 with 100 colonies of bees in a cellar, we need not be anxious 

 even if a good many quarts come out to die. 



In spring, when the flowers have started, so that the bees 

 can gather honey and pollen, they may beset out. This better 



