APICULTUBAL EXPERIMENTS. 

 By Nelson W. McLain, Special Agent. 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 



The following article is extracted from Mr. McLain's annual report for 1886, tho 

 major part of which is published in the Annual Report of the Department for that 

 year. 



C. V. R. 

 PREPARING BEES FOR WINTER. 



Bees instinctively begin to make preparations for winter somewhat 

 earlier in the season than is commonly supposed. In preparing for 

 winter, as in all other matters relating to bee-keeping, the apiarist should 

 see to it that the method of management is as nearly as possible in 

 agreement with the instinct and habits of the bee. When bees build 

 their combs after their own design, as in box hives, spaces are left be- 

 tween wide enough to admit of elongating the cells in order that a large 

 share of the winter stores may be placed in the top of the hive, easily 

 accessible in the severest weather. I find it gcod practice to widen the 

 spaces between the comb-frames near the close of the honey-gathering 

 season, in order that the bees may, by elongating the cells, place a large 

 share of the winter store above the cluster. 



As soon as the storing of surplus honey is done the condition of every 

 colony should be examined, the amount and character of the winter 

 food ascertained, the number of comb-frames, and the size of the apart- 

 ment should be determined by and adapted to the wants of each colony. 

 After the supply of winter stores has been equalized among all the colo- 

 nies, if the supply is insufficient, feeding should be clone before the 

 advent of cold nights. 



Bees expected to perform the function of hibernation should not be- 

 too old nor yet too young. Both queen and worker bees should be in 

 full physical vigor. The bees constituting the colouy, when placed in 

 winter quarters, should be such as are hatched after the midsummer 

 working season is past, and before the bees cease flying freely in the 

 fall. 



Towards the close of the working season the workers instinctively 

 cease stimulating the queen for oviproduction ; gradually the bees cease 

 flying, and the cluster is formed for winter. After the cluster is formed 

 the colony should remain undisturbed. If the bees are to be packed on 

 the summer stand the work should be done with care, and without dis- 



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