69 
of temperature liigher iu proportion to the dampness should be main- 
tained. The hive should incline from back to front, and the entrance 
should be lelt wide opeu. 
It has been the practice of many to raise the temperature in winter 
repositories in order to stimulate breeding toward the close of the hi- 
bernating period. I have tried this, and in my experience I find it better 
to maintain as nearly as possible an even temperature until the bees 
may be safely placed on the summer stands. What is gained in early 
breeding is more than lost in the waste of vitality on the part of the 
older bees. In the case of bees wintered on the summer stands or in a 
clamp, the packing of dry forest leaves, chaff, or sawdust placed above 
the quilt should be closely packed about the edges, and should be from 
7 to 12 inches in thickness. Indeed it would be difficult to get the 
packing above the cluster too deep, provided the ventilation above the 
packing is sufficient to carry off moisture. 
SPRING DWINDLING. 
For preventing spring dwindling, and building up colonies to maxi- 
mum strength and efficiency at the beginning of the working season — 
for success in honey-producing largely depends on having strong colo- 
nies ready for work at the very time when efficient work may be done — 
I prepared a bee-food containing the elements essential in brood-rear- 
ing. This food is prepared after the following formula: 
To 10 pounds of sugar I add half a pint of dairy salt, 2 tablespoonfuls 
bicarbonate of soda, 2 tablespoonfuls rye flour, 2 tablespoonfuls finely 
powdered bone ash, and 1 tablespoonful cream tartar. Mix thoroughly, 
then add 2 quarts hot water, and stir until thoroughly dissolved, and 
let the mixture boil, but only 2 or 3 minutes. I feed this food in the 
hive as honey or sirup is usually fed, thereby keeping all the bees at 
home to aid in keeping up the temperature in the hive, thus reserving 
their vitality for performing the functions of brood-rearing, instead of 
speedily wearing out their remaining strength in roaming the fields in 
search of the elements essential to larval growth. 
The bone ash is prepared by burning dry bones to a white ash, which 
I pulverize and sift through a sieve made from fine wire strainer cloth. 
As this food is not intended for use until after the bees have had a good 
flight in the spring, almost any grade of sugar or dark low-grade honey 
may be supplied for brood-rearing. 
The rapidity with which a colony consisting of a mere handful of bees 
may be built up to full strength and working efficiency by using this 
preparation is surprising. Only as much as is needed for immediate 
consumption should be frequently supplied, and it should be fed only 
to prevent spring dwindling, or when it is desirable to quickly increase 
the numerical strength of the colony in anticipation of a honey harvest? 
or to recruit the vigor and strength of the colony by rearing young bees 
after the working season, and prior to going into winter quarters. 
