55 
eggs are found, and a good quantity of bees, place the 
whole back in the same order that you found them ; 
clean out the outer part of the hive ; put on the pre- 
server, and over that place the straw mat, and put on 
the cap ; contract the entrance of the hive to one inch 
or less, so that but a few bees can pass out and in at a 
time. By slipping the regulator to the right an entrance 
of a fourth of an inch or a whole inch, can be given, as 
occasion may require. 
If the colony is small, move the regulator to the 
right far enough to make it quite small, say one-half 
inch, as they can better protect themselves against 
intruders. Should you not discover any young bees or 
eggs, you must look each card carefully over and 
see if you can find the queen ; this can be done at the 
same time that you are making examinations in refer- 
ence to the other conditions of the hive. If no eggs, 
young bees, or queen can be found, you must give 
them a queen as soon as convenient. Such a colony 
as this would be a good colony to introduce an Italian 
queen into, and a very good season of the year to do 
so, and have them become Italianized earl)' the next 
season. Every bee-master should, during the season 
of drones, rear a few surplus queens for such emergen- 
cies as this. In ordinary winters, a pound of honey 
will winter about one thousand bees, or half a pint in 
measure. An estimate made from this will be quite 
safe, where my instructions are followed in regard to 
wintering. Should there be a deficiency of honey, it 
must be supplied immediately, in order to have them 
carry it into the hive and seal it over before the 
weather becomes too cold. (See Directions for Feeding.) 
In this case, the preserver and mat should be left off 
