BEE MANUAL. 245 



least, there is not one which has as yet treated on the subject 

 of " wintering " in semi-tropical climates ; yet that is a matter 

 which, although not attended with the same difficulties as in 

 colder climates, nor indeed with much difficulty of any sort, 

 cannot be passed over lightly by Australasian bee-keepers. 



AUSTRALASIAN WINTERS. 



Xowhere in these colonies can there be any question of 

 housing or cellaring the hives during the winter months, or of 

 confining the bees to their hives. There is nothing to prevent 

 the bees being left on their summer stands, and upon all fine 

 days the bees will fly as freely, and collect honey and pollen (if 

 to be had) as regularly as in summer-time. At no time is the 

 day temperature so low as to check this tendency ; there is no 

 snow lying on the ground to entrap unwary bees that may be 

 induced by a gleam of sunshine to venture away from home ; 

 it is only on days of continued rain or of very high winds that 

 flight would be likely to be injurious to bees, and on such 

 occasions they may be safely trusted to remain comfortably at 

 home. 



PRECAUTIONS FOR WINTERING. 



The precautions necessary to insure safe wintering may be 

 confined to the following points : — 1. Reducing the interior 

 room in the hive to the size suitable to the strength of the 

 stock. 2. Providing a fair supply of food to be drawn upon 

 when the bees are prevented from working. 3. Securing pro- 

 tection from the effects of night frosts by sufficient mats or 

 cushions between the frames and the hive covers. 4. Reducing 

 the entrance so as to effectually exclude mice, and to enable 

 the bees easily to keep out other enemies. 5. Making sure 

 that all covers are perfectly water-tight, and not liable to be 

 blown off by high winds. 6. Last, but not least, providing 

 winter forage in the neighbourhood of the apiary. 



REDUCING INTERIOR ROOM IN HIVE. 



Usually the season for taking surplus honey closes a 

 month or six weeks before the time when it is necessary 

 to prepare for wintering. In such cases the spare supers 

 or surplus boxes should be removed, and the bees confined 



