36& 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
perform all necessary operations, the feeding with liquid 
honey excepted. The entrances to the hives must now 
be secured against mice, and it will be well to give the 
roofs a new coat of paint. If the hives are to be exposed 
to the sun, no color is so good as a pure white ; but, if 
they are set under the shade of trees (p. 280 ), a dark 
color will do them no harm, in the hottest weather, while 
early in the season, before the leaves are expanded, by 
absorbing instead of reflecting the heat, it will prove 
highly advantageous to the bees. 
By the latter part of November, in our Northern 
States, Winter usually sets in, and colonies which are to 
be kept in a special Winter depository, should be properly 
housed. The later in the season that the bees are able to 
fly out and discharge their feces, the better. The bee¬ 
keeper must regulate the time of housing his bees by the 
season and climate, being careful neither to take them in 
until cold weather appears to be fairly established, nor to 
leave them out too late. If colonies are carried in too 
early, and quite warm weather succeeds the first cold, it 
may be advisable to replace them on their Summer 
stands.* 
As soon as freezing weather sets in, the colonies stand¬ 
ing in the open air must have upward ventilation (p. 338 ). 
December. —In regions where it is advisable to house 
bees, the dreary reign of Winter is now fairly established, 
and the directions given for January are for the most part 
equally applicable to this month. It may be well, in 
hives out of doors, to remove the dead bees and othei 
refuse from the bottom-boards ; but, neither in this month 
nor at any other time should this be attempted with those 
removed to a dark and protected place. Such colonies 
* If the boos are wintered on Mr. Scholtz's plan, It will neither be possible not 
desirable to replace them on their Summer stands 
