143 WINTERING BEES. 



WINTERING IN THE OrEN AIR. 



In October, the exact condition of all the stocks should be 

 ascertained, both as to their strength, and their supply of stores 

 for winter. If any are found lacking in both these points, join 

 two together, or strengthen them with bees obtained from neigh- 

 bors, (page 88,) and supply them with extra food. To en- 

 sure the safety of the stocks, till flowers bloom in spring, each 

 should have twenty -five pounds of honey. With a little prac 

 tice, the amount of stores may be very nearly determined by 

 inspection, or simply by removing the cap and lifting the hive 

 from the stand. However, if the combs are more than one year 

 old, there is much liability of being deceived, when judging by 

 lifting or weighing the hive. The reasons are, that old combs 

 are heavier than new, and often contain large quantities of bee- 

 bread. Still, the experienced bee-keeper will seldom err in his 

 estimate of winter supplies. Should any lack stores, give them 

 reserved frames of sealed honey, or if this cannot be done, and 

 other stocks are very heavy, exchange a frame with each. If 

 the lower part of such combs are empty, they may be placed 

 near the centre of the needy stocks, as there should be honey 

 directly above the bees ; but if full, place them a little to one 

 side of the cluster, for the reason that bees need empty cells to 

 winter in. The comb in each frame should have an inch hole 

 cut through it, four or five inches from the top, to enable the 

 bees, in extreme cold weather, to reach the stores in the outside 

 combs without danger of freezing, by leaving the cluster to 

 crawl around the edge of the frame. 



