FORTY YEARS AMONG THE EEES. 



289 



Now suppose we have loo colonies that are all fed 

 up for winter and they are then put into double hives. 

 Please understand that there is little or no extra expense 

 for these double hives. They are just the regular hives, 

 only we take special pair^s to see that the division-board 

 is perfectly bee-tight. If the hives are to be hauled 

 home, as I haul mine each fall, there are only 50 in- 

 stead of 100 to haul ; just half the bulk, and a much less 



Fig. 105.— Weighing Colonies, 



weight than the 100 would be. Just half the hives are 

 to be handled in taking in and out of winter quarters ; 

 just half the room is occupied in winter quarters ; and I 

 think, although I do not know, that the bees will winter 

 better than if only one colony in a hive. If they are to 

 be taken, in the spring, to a distant apiary, there is the 

 advantage of hauling only 50 hives instead of 100. If, 

 in the spring, any colony be found queenless it is in fine 

 position to be united with its fellow colony. 



