102 PROFITABLE ._BEE-KEEPING 
but it is so, and when I state that I know of an 
apiary in which seventeen stocks out of twenty- 
four met with this fate last winter, nothing fur- 
ther need be said. 
Bees can be winteréd much safer than many, 
other creatures on a farm if a few simple rules 
be thoroughly understood and acted upon. In 
the first place, they must have from twenty-five to 
thirty-five pounds of good food; secondly, they, 
must be kept very, warm in a good hive, from 
which wet, draughts, and mice must be rigorously, 
excluded; finally, the colonies must be strong in 
bees and headed for preference by young queens, 
although this last is not an item of the first im- 
portance as regards wintering. 
Preparations for wintering should begin at the 
end of August, when all colonies should be gone 
through and the food-supply carefully gauged, 
recollecting that a little over four square inches 
of comb contains about one pound of food. Make 
sure at the same time that there is a fertile 
queen present. When all the colonies have been 
examined proceed to give them any food that may, 
be necessary, to make up the requisite quantity, 
for winter use. This should be given in what is 
known as a rapid feeder, a drawing of which will 
be found elsewhere. 
When feeding is over, place a split ball of 
napthaline in each of the back corners. of the 
floor-board, and across the frame top bars lay 
