124 miner's AMERICAN 



winter as well ; as it has been thoroughly tested, that 

 strong stocks winter better, and consume less honey 

 than weaker ones ! This may appear strange to those 

 who are unacquainted with this subject ; yet it is true, 

 for the reason, that the bees are less exposed in 

 strong stocks, to the various winter changes of weather, 

 to which our climate is subject. 



A few warm days in winter will put the whole of a 

 small stock in motion ; whereas, a strong one is much 

 less affected ; and when a family of bees is once aroused 

 from their lethargy, they consume double the quantity of 

 honey that they do when in a state of quietude. But 

 setting this matter entirely out of the question, there are 

 yet good reasons for having larger hives. When bees 

 are placed in hives adapted to their natural wants, 

 giving no excess of room, nor curtailing the use of such 

 space, as they actually require, they then cast off their 

 first swarms of such numbers as nature teaches them 

 are best adapted to prove prosperous ; and it matters not 

 how large your hive may be, if a swarm be cast, which 

 is seldom with families in large hives, it will not be in 

 proportion to the size of the hive, but in accordance 

 with the laws of nature, governing the bee. 



Now, to come to the point, with as few words as pos- 

 sible, and do justice to my subject, I will say, that I have 

 found, from many years of close application to the,;4pa- 

 ture, economy, and general management of bees, that 

 hives about one foot square in the clear ; that is, in the 

 inside, conform more to the natural habits and acquire- 

 ments of bees, than any other size. 



