18 
hive, frequently, the honey in the top of the hive, from 
remaining there too long, becomes candied ; if such 
stocks throw off too many bees they often fail in collect- 
ing enough from the fields (and as they make but little 
use of candied honey,) they must starve. 
Over-swarming also weakens the parent colony by 
their getting reduced so much, that animal heat enough 
cannot be kept up and they die in consequence. 
Failing to collect honey enough, as is frequently the 
ease with after swarms, is another cause ; and another is 
leaving stocks upon the same stands, through the winter, 
where they stood during summer ; in mild, sunny days, 
your bees are invited out from the hives, many fall upon 
the snow and never return, and those that are not so de- 
stroyed re-enter the hives to perish, for while from the 
hives they have discharged the footed matter, the accu- 
mulation of weeks and months, their exercise causes 
them to feed perhaps too greedily of honey, the tempera- 
ture of which has been reduced by too many bees leaving 
the hives at once, and should a slight change in the at- 
mosphere occur, even a few degrees lower, you will find 
hundreds of your bees dead on the bottom boards of your 
hives. 
I5KE STANDS. 
Good bee atands are uecessary appendages of any 
well-conducted apiary. They should be made of good 
durable lumber, about two feet wide and four feet in 
length ; this will accommodate two hives, and will be 
found to be just what you want if artificial swarming is 
desired, and whether it is desired or not, more than two 
hives should not be placed on a single stand. These 
stands should be six or eight inches in height, with a 
