I IO« TO CONDUCT AN APIARY. 
No. 9. 
® NE year ago we said, “in time of peace 
prepare for war” and we say so again 
now, but really, with less confidence in our 
ability to direct lohnt preparation is to be 
made, than we had then. 
So far as dysentery is concerned, we have 
no fear at all but that it is perfectly under 
control, but the dwindling away, and rapid 
depopulation of the colonies in the spring, is a 
matter which we fear is almost, beyond our 
skill. From great numbers of reports, from 
widely scattered localities we find that some 
Apiaries winter .just as well as they used to 
years ago, colonies dying only from starvation, 
while within a short distance at a neighboring 
Apiary they may all die. These results come 
when the circumstances are so widely differ- 
ent, and where almost every kind of treatment 
lias been given, all the way from box hives out 
doors without care, to movable combs, Italians 
and honey extracted until frost comes, that we 
Hunk we are excusable for thinking it an epi- 
demic among bees that appears in some Apia- 
ries and not in others ; and for which we have 
as yet no positive remedy, for the box hives 
have tailed in one case and those which were 
extracted came out all right, and the next 
report, would be right the reverse. 
Mr. 1. E. Daniels of Lodi, this Co., purcha- 
sed several colonies and moved them late in 
the fall after all pasturage was over. A part 
ot them with the rest of his colonies were left 
°“t> and a part put into his cellar, yet all died 
about alike, while his neighbor a few miles 
away, from whom these were purchased, lost, 
"-one. Is it not rather probable that some dis- 
ease used up friend Id's Apiary / Mis colonies 
vere remarkably strong in Sept., when we ex- 
amined them, and he has hitherto been a most 
1 successful Apiarist. Again, the 
mney that apparently killed the bees in 73 
™ them successfully in 74, see pages 22 
and o8, current volume. 
hr. imJ ' l is , C01-| ainly poor encouragement to 
? ur . bee * "my all die in the spring wh„t- 
erf i d °' fllL ' ts ate stubborn things. Nev- 
^ t ie ess we are by no means to fold our hands 
tro ,l,7 e strong colonies through this 
m le. as with all others, have almost uni- 
th ron idi th" t ! leOUCS ’ that came safely 
■des tnV S1CK< ' ; we a™ to bend our ener- 
' p l? tae work of making all good. 
hui'o r : sa .vs she could take one colony and 
1 'iffht arrange the stores -just 
s , and fix it, up so she known ’twould winter 
either in doors or out ; how many of our read- 
ers feel the same way? If they can do one, 
why not fifty ? Is it time, only that is needed ? 
If such be the case 'twill probably be a better 
investment of this precious time, to go to work 
now, this month, and ifconscious that we have 
too little nerve or energy to put our whole 
Apiary in “apple pie” order at once, perhaps 
we had better take one at a time, and make 
believe for the time being, 'tis our sole posses- 
sion. 
Now the question comes up as to what is to 
ie done, that is, what do we know from past 
experience etc., can be done safely ; not in an 
experimental way, (manure etc.) but establish- 
eel, that all or nearly all will agree on. 
Suppose our readers stood about us, and 
we pointed to a colony, and addressed them 
something after this fashion : 
Fellow laborers can you ail agree on what 
shall be done to put this colony in good shape 
for wintering ? How many bees shall we have v 
Is there one of you now, that would be satisfied 
with a pint, a quart, or even two quarts ? The 
hive contains ten Langstroth combs, if we 
bring brood if necessary from other hives 
(thereby reducing the number of colonies) un- 
til at least seven of the ten combs contain 
brood, and bees enough to cover them nicely 
will it be too strong this first day of Septem- 
ber ? 1 
We think the majority of you will agree 
that it will not; and also that 'twill be just as 
well to leave the brood in its natural position. 
II honey should come in during the fall we can 
put empty combs at one side or above them 
to be used in the extractor. 
In regard to the amount of stores needed 
you will all probably agree that if the brood 
com. is are all bulged out above the brood with 
sealed stores, and the other three full and 
heavy with pollen and sealed stores also, that 
they have an ample supply. 
Uncapped watery looking honey, you will 
all admit is not to be considered desirable. We 
shall use sugar syrup in place of honey, and 
it will have been fed to them priucipailv du- 
i mg the mouth of August; during this month 
we shall also feed enough to keep up brood- 
rearing briskly, and shall move the combs 
about but little; leaving each colony all the 
pollen they have gathered and just in the po- 
sition they have placed it. 
II after we have fixed everything the best we 
know how, they should die, we can console our- 
sel' es with the thought of having done our du- 
ty !lt least, and that bee culture is not the only 
pursuit having its drawbacks, by any means. 
