3 
kept in the cellar or any other place of confinement 
too loner, and after they become restless on account 
of disease or warmth. 
When returning them to their summer stands, if 
confined but a short time, place each hive where it 
was before being put into winter quarters, and to 
insure this, stakes may be driven into the ground 
near the hives, and both numbered alike. For all 
practical purposes hives should be kept at least ten 
or fifteen feet apart, and where they can have a free 
circulation of air and be exposed to the sun at any 
time. 
To produce strong colonies early in the season, 
feed the bees sugar syrup early in the spring, and 
often, in small quantities. Also give them plenty 
ot finely ground, unbolted flour as early and late in 
the spring as they will use it. They will use flour 
made of various kinds of grain. If put in the 
feed box place it at the warmest end of the hive. 
In the sunshine is the most favorable place. The 
syrup may be poured into empty combs taken from 
the hive and returned. 
As one of the best means of keeping colonies 
strong and profitable, keep none but very prolific 
queens under two years old, and when ofd queens 
are removed put others in their places, so as not to 
materially check the development of the brood. 
To prevent swarming, gradually enlarge the hive in 
the spring by adding frames to the central part of 
the hive as fast as the bees can properly occupy and 
fill them, and when the bees are storing honey re¬ 
move it with the extractor. If colonizing is de¬ 
sired in connection with the use of the extractor, it 
may be done about the close of the main honey 
season, which occurs in many places about the mid- 
