in my hive. Remove front of top cover, lay it with [crossed out: illegible] legs of hive, blocks, on
the inside of cover turned upside down, when hive properly ventilated etc. , let
it down into cover, nail or screw all fast. Easy then to handle hive. 
(26th) 47 to 58 degrees. Cloudy, some rain. Have cobed more hives. (27th) 47 to 56 degrees. 
Cloudy, too cool and windy to work among bees. Union of stocks. If two or more stocks
are to be united, first remove from the hive all the superfluous combs, and
queens, the bees will now, in the colonies which are to be broken up be all clustered
upon the remaining combs and in the PM, after they have ceased to fly [illegible] may
all be gently lifted out and with their frames set into the hive to which they are to be
united. By drumming [inserted: upon] that hive any disposition to hurt the added bees may easily be
checked. Remove the apron board from the old stands so that the bees will find
nothing to remind them of their old location. It may not be amiss to cage the queen
until all is going right. The prior removal of superfluous combs a very valuable
idea. (28th) 50 degrees. Cloudy, very raw, nothing done with the bees. 29th & 30th. Much as
28th - 31st. 40 to 52 degrees. Raw, bees fly some, drones out. November 1st. 30 to 54 degrees. Heavy frost,
drones flew considerably, wind too raw from east. Fear that I shall get no more queens
impregnated. Drones hauled at some today. Some queens in cobed hives are laying quite
freely. Bees ought soon to be put in winter quarters. (2nd) 38 to 46 degrees. Cloudy, raw, some
rain in PM. (3rd) 40 to 40 degrees. Considerable rain last night, raw, some rain this AM. 
Wind changed from east to northwest. After dark slight snow flurries. (4th) 27 to 44 degrees. 
Perfectly fair, several queens have hatched the last few days, as beautiful as in warm weather. 
Want of bee bread to feed liberally was no doubt the cause of my getting so many poorly colored
queens in [illegible] nuclei, a few years ago. Heard yesterday that my Dzierzon bees were sent
on steamer from Hamburgh. (6th) 36 to 50 degrees. Cloudy, some rain, strong wind. (7th) 50 to 56 degrees. Cloudy,
have been able to unite colonies well. Whether put in on frames or shaken down I can see
no disposition among the bees to quarrel, yet they loyally repel robbers. Are not the Italians
in their peaceable union unlike the black bees. In a short time after breaking up a stock
no bees appear around the old spot, wherever they go to, they stay. I find not the least
trouble in uniting stocks no matter how far apart they stand. Have killed today
a number of queens, dissection proved them all to be unfertile, from their actions, appearance
and actions of the bees I supposed they were unimpregnated. Others well circled around by the
bees I have kept. Shall not another season try to have queens impregnated later than September. 
(8th) 65 degrees. Warm, drizzly part of day, have broken up and added bees to other colonies, shaken
them out, no fighting, in a short time no attempt to go back to the old location,
the old hive, etc. being removed. Hives near the ground with apron board greatly
facilitate union of stocks. Saw a wiggling bee had no wax, no bee bread. When
breaking up stocks, the few bees left on comb even when hive moved to a new place and
plunderers are in great numbers, fight then, and kill many, they know not how to
yield. Queen or no queen these Italians are wonderfully courageous to defend their stores. 
The great difficulty in getting queens impregnated later than September, and the difficulty of knowing
whether they are or are not is a sufficient reason against depending upon October queens. No
trouble in keeping drones, have them yet. (9th) 66 degrees. Very strong southerly wind, hives low, do not
feel wind much, considerable rain. Heard today of the reelection of Lincoln. Glory to God