69 



of temperature higher in proportion to the dampness should be main- 

 tained. The hive should incline from back to front, and the entrance 

 should be lelt wide open. 



It has been the practice of many to raise the temperature in winter 

 repositories in order to stimulate breeding toward the close of the hi- 

 bernating- period. I have tried this, and in my experience I find it better 

 to maintain as nearly as possible an even temperature until the bees 

 may be safely placed on the summer stands. What is gained in early 

 breeding is more than lost in the waste of vitality on the part of the 

 older bees. In the case of bees wintered on the summer stands or in a 

 clamp, the packing of dry forest leaves, chaff, or sawdust placed above 

 the quilt should be closely packed about the edges, and should be from 

 7 to 12 inches in thickness. Indeed it would be difficult to get the 

 packing above the cluster too deep, provided the ventilation above the 

 packing is sufficient to carry off moisture. 



SPRING DWINDLING-. 



For preventing spring dwindling, and building up colonies to maxi- 

 mum strength and efficiency at the beginning of the working season — 

 for success in honey-producing largely depends on having strong colo- 

 nies ready for work at the very time when efficient work may be done — 

 I prepared a bee-food containing the elements essential in brood-rear- 

 ing. This food is prepared after the following formula: 



To 10 pounds of sugar I add half a pint of dairy salt, 2 tablespoonfuls 

 bicarbonate of soda, 2 tablespooufuls rye flour, 2 tablespoonfuls finely 

 powdered bone ash, and 1 tablespoonful cream tartar. Mix thorough^, 

 then add 2 quarts hot water, and stir until thoroughly dissolved, and 

 let the mixture boil, but only 2 or 3 minutes. I feed this food in the 

 hive as honey or sirup is usually fed, thereby keeping all the bees at 

 home to aid in keeping up the temperature in the hive, thus reserving 

 their vitality for performing the functions of brood-rearing, instead of 

 speedily wearing out their remaining strength in roaming the fields in 

 search of the elements essential to larval growth. 



The bone ash is prepared by burning dry bones to a white ash, which 

 I pulverize and sift through a sieve made from fine wire strainer cloth. 

 As this food is not intended for use until after the bees have had a good 

 flight in the spring, almost any grade of sugar or dark low-grade honey 

 may be supplied for brood-rearing. 



The rapidity with which a colony consisting of a mere handful of bees 

 may be built up to full strength and working efficiency by using this 

 preparation is surprising. Only as much as is needed for immediate 

 consumption should be frequently supplied, and it should be fed only 

 to prevent spring dwindling, or when it is desirable to quickly increase 

 the numerical strength of the colony in anticipation of a honey harvest? 

 or to recruit the vigor and strength of the colony by rearing young bees 

 after the working season, and prior to going into winter quarters. 



