244 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



cated as necessary to safely take the bees through the 

 winter. I do not remember as any plan was given 

 to keep up a supply without attention. As a dearth 

 of water is represented as the cause of much loss, of 

 course those who take this theory for fact, and ex- 

 pect success, must have some trouble to provide for 

 these wants. 



Not dreaming that water was essential to the health 

 of the bees in winter, I have for the last twenty-five 

 years used my utmost endeavors to get rid of all 

 moisture about the hive, and I have succeeded as ef- 

 fectually as any one. When put in the house, I open 

 the holes in the top of the hive and then invert it on 

 sticks ; a constant circulation of air through the hive 

 carries with it all the moisture generated — the combs 

 remaining perfectly dry, and as far as I can discover, 

 the bees are perfectly healthy. Instead of its being 

 a general loss with this method, I have wintered hun- 

 dreds of stocks with a loss of less than two per cent. 

 Why others, who take no pains, comparatively, to 

 ventilate, should suffer so much more in losses than I 

 do, I cannot comprehend ; that is, with this theory. 



Many years ago I became fully satisfied that nine- 

 tenths of all the good colonies lost in winter, was in 

 direct consequence of confining this moisture to the 

 hive. The experience of every subsequent year, 

 gives additional proof to the idea. 



Respecting the particles of candied honey found on 

 the bottom board, as indicating suffering for water — 

 mentioned by Mr. L. — I have been unable to arrive 

 at a similar conclusion ; because, whenever the room 



