176 A Modern Bee- Farm 



just where the bees decide to cluster, in the usual compact 

 mass. 



Leave all the Combs 



for the bees to winter on, with a passage communicating" 

 over all frames, otherwise insufficient stores may be 

 allowed, and the bees at once realizing the situation, will 

 not expand the brood nest rapidly in Spring ; or they may 

 even die out before the owner has a chance to add more 

 food. 



Unite Stocks of doubtful Streng^th. 



As mentioned elsewhere, all weak colonies must be 

 united before feeding takes place ; and not simply weak 

 lots, but others about which there is the slightest doubt as 

 to them coming through all right. The reader will ask : 

 " How are those others constituted about which there can 

 be any doubt, other than really weak stocks ?" In the 

 first place I should say those which have old, or otherwise 

 unsatisfactory queens ; those which through any oversight 

 may have been without a laying queen for a few weeks 

 during the latter part of the summer ; as well as those 

 which may be short of stores. It will be found impossible 

 to alternate the combs with ten or eleven-frame hives 

 where they are populous, and in that case place the whole 

 hive upon another n^ar to it; or if a little too far apart, 

 bring each hive half-way ; and in all cases of uniting, place 

 a wide board from the ground to the flight board, not only 

 to attract the flying bees, but also that both lots may be 

 aware of a strange location, and so have no inclination to 

 fight. (Refer to Uniting) 



What is a Strong Stocit ? 



Will be a frequent question. Can I explain the situation 

 fully ? I will endeavour to do so for the benefit of the 



