368 TIIK niVK AND HONEY-BEE. 



perform all necessary operations, the feeding with liquid 

 honey excepted. The entrances to the hives must now 

 be secured against mice, and it will -be well^o give the 

 roofs a new coat of paint. If the hives are to be exposed 

 to the sun, no color is so good as a pure white ; but, if 

 they are set -under J;he shade of trees (p. 280), a dark 

 color will do them no harm, in the hottest weather, while 

 early in the season, before the leaves are expanded, by 

 absorbing instead of reflecting the heat, it wilf prove 

 highly advantageous to the bees. 



By the latter part of November, in our Northern 

 States, Winter usually sets in, and colonies which are to 

 be kept in a special Winter depository, should be properly 

 housed. The later in the season that the bees are able to 

 fly out and discharge their fseces; the better. The bee- 

 keeper must regulate the time of housing his bees by the 

 season and climate, being careful neither to take them in 

 until cold weather appears to be fairly established, nor to 

 leave them out too late. If colonies are carried in too 

 early, and quite warm weather siicceeds the :^8t cold, it 

 may be advisable to replace them on their Summer 

 stands.* 



As soon as freezing weather sets in, the colonies stand- 

 ing in the open air must have upward ventilation (p. 338). 



Decembek. — ^In regions where it is advisable to house 

 bees, the dreary reign of Winter is now fairly established, 

 ' and the directions given for January are for the most part 

 equally applicable to this month. It may be well, in 

 hives out of doors, to remove the dead bees and othei 

 refuse from the bottom-boards ; but, neither in this month 

 nor at any other time should this be attempted with those 

 removed to a dark and protected place. Such coloniej 



* If the bees are wintered on Mr. Scholtz's plan, it will neither be possible noi 

 desirable to replace them on their Summer stands. 



