APICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. 
By Nelson W. McLain, Special Agent. 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
The following article is extracted from Mr. McLain’s annual report for 1886, tho 
major part of which is published in the Annual Report of the Department for that 
year. 
C. Y. R. 
PREPARING BEES FOR WINTER. 
Bees instinctively begin to make preparations for winter somewhat 
earlier in the season than is commonly supposed. In preparing for 
winter, as in all other matters relating to bee-keeping, the apiarist should 
see to it that the method of management is as nearly as possible in 
agreement with the instinct and habits of the bee. When bees build 
their combs after their own design, as in box hives, spaces are left be- 
tween wide enough to admit of elongating the cells in order that a large 
share of the winter stores may be placed in the top of the hive, easily 
accessible in the severest weather. I find it good practice to widen the 
spaces between the comb-frames near the close of the honey-gathering 
season, in order that the bees may, by elongating the cells, place a large 
share of the winter store above the cluster. 
As soon as the storing of surplus honey is done the condition of every 
colony should be examined, the amount and character of the winter 
food ascertained, the number of comb-frames, and the size of the apart- 
ment should be determined by and adapted to the wants of each colony. 
After the supply of winter stores has been equalized among all the colo- 
nies, if the supply is insufficient, feeding should be done before the 
advent of cold nights. 
Bees expected to perform the function of hibernation should not be 
too old nor yet too young. Both queen and worker bees should be in 
full physical vigor. The bees constituting the colony, when placed in 
winter quarters, should be such as are hatched after the midsummer 
working season is past, and before the bees cease flying freely in the 
fall. 
Towards the close of the working season the workers instinctively 
cease stimulating the queen for oviproduction ; gradually" the bees cease 
flying, and the cluster is formed for winter. After the cluster is formed 
the colony should remain undisturbed. If the bees are to be packed on 
the summer stand the work should be done with care, and without dis- 
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