WINTBKINa BEES. 333 



and lost. Some bee-keepers take out their stocks at evening. 

 If we could be always sure of having the next day a fair one, 

 it would probably be the best time ; but should it be only 

 moderate, or cloudy, it would be attended with considerable 

 loss — or if the next day should be quite cold, but few would 

 leave, and then the only risk would be to get a good day, 

 before one that was just warm enough to make them leave 

 the hive, but not quite enough to enable them to return." 



" When too many are taken out at once, the rush from all 

 the hives is so much like a swarm, that it appears to confuse 

 them. Some of the stocks by this means will get more bees 

 than actually belong to them, while others are proportionately 

 short, which is unprofitable, and to equalize them is some 

 trouble ; yet it may be done. Being all wintered in one 

 room, the scent or the means of distinguishing their own 

 family from strangers, becomes so much alike, that they 

 mix together without contention." 



" By taking advantage of this immediately, or before the 

 scent has again changed, and each hive has something pecu- 

 liar to itself, you can change the stand of very weak and 

 very strong families." 



" To prevent, as far as possible, some of these bad effects, 

 I prefer waiting for a fair day to begin, and then not until 

 the day has become sufficiently warm to make it safe from 

 chill." 



If the place selected for a winter depositary, is liable to 

 heavy or frequent jars, it will prove very injurious to the 

 bees, by constantly exciting them to undue activity ; for 

 this reason it is always better that the hives should stand 

 on the earth, or at least on supports which are not con- 

 nected with the building, if it is used for other purposes. 

 On the whole, Winter depositaries, however admirable 

 for well-informed and experienced Apiarians, will, in the 



