304 Spring Dwindling. 



level of the earth, then form a mound above them sufficient 

 to preserve against extreme warmth or cold. A trench about 

 the mound to carry the water off quickly is desirable. In 

 this arrangement the ground acts as a moderator. I would 

 urge the suggestion that no one try this with more than a few 

 colonies, for several years, till repeated successes show that it 

 is reliable in all seasons. 



SPRING DWINDLING. 



As already suggested, this is not to be feared if we keep 

 our bees breeding till late autumn, prepare them well and ear- 

 ly for winter, and use a good cellar for wintering. It may 

 be further prevented by forbidding late autumn flights, fre- 

 quent flights in winter, when the weather is warm, and too 

 early flying in spring. These may all be curtailed or prevent- 

 ed by the packing system as described above, as thus prepar- 

 ed the bees will not feel the warmth, and so will remain quiet 

 in the hive. 



I am aware that this matter of spring dwindling is most 

 stoutly urged as an objection to cellar wintering, and as an ar- 

 gument in favor of chaff hives. I have had excellent success 

 m cellar wintering, and never yet lost a colony by ' ' spring 

 dwindling." Crowd the bees up onto a few frames in Septem- 

 ber or early October ; cover warmly above and at sides of di- 

 vision boards with generous bags of saw-dust, and leave these 

 on the hives till the next June if the weather remains cool, 

 and bees from the cellar— a good cellar — will come through 

 the spring in excellent condition. In the winter of '81-82, 

 I put some chaff hives into my cellar alongside of my single 

 walled hives, arranged as just described, and the bees in them 

 did no better in spring after removal from the cellar than in 

 other hives. Be sure in early spring that the bees have no 

 more combs than they can cover, and spring dwindling will 

 lose its terror. The division board and saw-dust pillow are 

 antidotes for this malady. Never set bees permanently on 

 their summer stands from the cellar till the flowers and warmth 

 will enable them to work. v 



I have little doubt but that bees will do better if no breed- 

 ing takes place in winter. Perfect quiet should be our desire. 

 If the bees have no pollen, of course no breeding will take 

 place, and so I advised its removal. It is not for winter use. 



Note.— Below 60° F. in the shade is too cold for hees to fly. At 70° F. we 

 may Bafely handle our bees without chilling the brood. When not clus- 

 tered bees chill at about 65°. 



