84 On Ratio 7 ial Bee-Keepmg, 
the upper hive, and to blow a few puffs of 
smoke into the lower. 
An operation of this kind should, as much as 
possible, be undertaken towards evening. 
In winter, when all work in the hives has 
ceased, a small opening may safely be left in the 
top of the hives, in order to allow the escape of 
any exhalations from within. This should be 
more especially attended to when the ground is 
covered with snow, as it is often expedient at 
such a time to close the entrances altogether, in 
order to prevent the bees from leaving the hive 
and thereby perishing. This method of con- 
finement, however, must be used with great 
moderation. 
At the beginning of winter, we advise strongly 
that two, or even three, weak stocks should be 
joined together to make one strong one, care 
being taken to remove the queens from the 
comb before brushing the bees into the hive to 
which they are to be united. 
By these means the fighting which would 
otherwise take place amongst the rival queens 
is avoided. If, at the same time, the bees are all 
sprinkled with syrup, and a puff or two of smoke 
blown amongst them, they will live together in 
