WINTERING BEE8. 
361 
Great loss is often incurred in replacing upon their 
Summer stands the stocks which have been kept in special 
depositories. Unless the day when they are put out is 
very favorable, many will be lost when they fly to dis- 
charge their faeces. In movable-comb hives, this risk can 
be greatly diminished, by removing the cover from the 
frames, and allowing the sun to shine directly upon the 
bees ; this will warm them up so quickly, that they will all 
discharge their faeces in a very short time.* 
After the stocks are placed on their Summer stands, f 
the precautions already described should be taken to 
strengthen feeble or impoverished colonies (p. 221). 
* Tho following Is an extract from my Journal : 
“Jan. 31st, 1857.— Kcmoved tho upper cover, exposing tho bees to the full heat 
of tho sun, the thermometer being 80° In the shade, and the atmosphere calm. 
The hive standing on the sunny sido of the house, tho bees quickly took wing and 
discharged their faeces. Very few were lost on the snow, and nearly all that 
alighted on It took wing without being chillod. Moro boes wore lost from other 
hives which were not opened, os few which left wore able to return ; while, in tho 
ono with the covor removed, tho returning bees were able to alight at once among 
their warm companions” 
t Dzierzon advises placing them on their former stands, os many bees stiU 
remember tho old spot. Mr. Quinby uses this time for equalizing tho colonies, 
he finds that, “being all wintered in ono room, their scent is so much allk 
that they mix together without contention.' 
ic 
