DYSENTERY. 55 
It is a singular coincidence! that between the two writ 
ings of Mr. L., my hive, with its winter passages, had 
fallen in his way, and that at the time of his latter writ- 
ing, my patent, embracing said winter passages, had 
already been ordered to issue! Mr. Langstroth’s “ some 
years ago” were included between 1860, and June, 1861 !1! 
* DYSENTERY.” 
Once during winter, it is desirable, and in lone winters © En 
quite necessary, that bees should be allowed to fly, to dis- 
charge their feeces, or they are apt to be attacked with 
what is improperly called “dysentery.” This arises from 
the inability of bees, after long confinement, to retain 
their feeces, consequently on the approach of a mild day; 
at such times, even when the weather istooinclement for ~ , 
them to safely fly, many will venture out for this purpose, 
and drop down upon the snow, while some evacuate about 
the entrance and in the hive. When the latter takes place 
to any considerable extent, the whole swarm is aroused 
to great activity ; and, if the weather continues cold, 
perish. A swarm ia this condition should be given air, 
and carefully shaded. As soon as the thermometcr marks 
45° in the shade, place them in the sun, and open the hive 
to let them fly. Ihave saved swarms in mid-winter by ~ 
allowing them to fly in a room, setting the hive by the 
window, and returning them with a ladle or spoon. But 
a room is quickly so soiled by the bees that it is not fit 
for anything else. After the bees have thus relieved 
themselves, the disease disappears. 
FEEDING. 
Bees should not be fed with liquid sweets in winter, 
when it can be safely avoided. Swarms, light in the fall, 
should be united, or their insufficient stores replenished, 
