\ BEE MANUAL. 245 
least, there is not one which has as yet treated on the subject 
of “ wintering” in semi-tropical climates ; yet that is a matter 
which, although not attended with the same difficulties as in 
colder climates, nor indeed with much difficulty of any sort, 
cannot be passed over lightly by Australasian bee-keepers. 
AUSTRALASIAN WINTERS. 
Nowhere in these colonies can there be any question of 
housing or cellaring the hives during the winter months, or of 
confining the bees to their hives. ‘There is nothing to prevent 
the bees being left on their summer stands, and upon all fine 
days the bees will fly as freely, and collect honey and pollen (if 
to be had) as regularly as in summer-time. At no time is the 
day temperature so low as to check this tendency ; there is no 
snow lying on the ground to entrap unwary bees that may be 
induced by a gleam of sunshine to venture away from home ; 
it is only on days of continued rain or of very high winds that 
flight would be likely to be injurious to bees, and on such 
occasions they may be safely trusted to remain comfortably at 
home. 
PRECAUTIONS FOR WINTERING. 
The precautions necessary to insure safe wintering may be 
confined to the following points :—1. Reducing the interior 
room in the hive to the size suitable to the strength of the 
stock. 2. Providing a fair supply of food to be drawn upon 
when the bees are prevented from working. 3. Securing pro- 
tection from the effects of night frosts by sufficient mats or 
cushions between the frames and the hive covers. 4. Reducing 
the entrance so as to effectually exclude mice, and to enable 
the bees easily to keep out other enemies. 5. Making sure 
that all covers are perfectly water-tight, and not liable to be 
blown off by high winds. 6. Last, but not least, providing 
winter forage in the neighbourhood of the apiary. 
REDUCING INTERIOR ROOM IN HIVE. 
Usually the season for taking surplus honey closes a 
month or six weeks before the time when it is necessary 
to prepare for wintering. In such cases the spare supers 
or surplus boxes should be removed, and the bees confined 
