288 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



a thin division-board were placed between the two sets of 

 combs, would he not see the same result? Not quite, I think, 

 but nearly so. They would hardly be so warm as without 

 the division-board, but nearly so; and both queens would be 

 saved. In the spring it is desirable to keep the bees warm. 

 If two colonies are in one hive, with a thin division-board 

 between them, they will be much warmer than if in separate 

 hives. The same thing is true in winter. I have had weak 

 nuclei with two combs come through in good condition during 

 a winter in which I lost heavily, these nuclei having no extra 

 care or protection other than being in a double hive. You 

 would understand the reason of all this easily if in winter you 

 would look into one of these double hives in the cellar. On 

 each side the bees are/ clustered up against the division-board, 

 and it looks exactly as if the bees had all been in one single 

 cluster, and then the division-board pushed down through the 

 center of the cluster. 



Now suppose we have IQQ 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 pains 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 instead of 100 to haul; just half the 

 bulk, and a much less 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 col- 

 ony be found queenless it is in fine position to be united with 

 its fellow colony. 



CHANGING FROM SINGLE" TO DOUBLE HIVES. 



Possibly you may be ready to agree with me so far as to 

 say, "Certainly, the thing looks desirable, but is it feasible? 

 Will not the trouble counterbalance a:ll advantage?" I know 

 it; is usually a matter of some trouble to change a colony from 

 one location to another in the same apiary. I think, however. 



