had four successive days, the mean of which was 11 degrees below zero. Lowest 24 degrees below zero
Highest 2 degrees below zero. In a hive with imported Queen found some sealed brood on two frames
and eggs on a third, colony only fair. Gave one frame of flour candy, outside frame. 
When this examination was made weather had moderated some but not enough to allow
bees to fly more than enough to empty [illegible]. Next examination many bees had
hatched, candy much eaten, good spread of brood, most on frames next candy, bees
seemed to be working on the candy nearly all the time, and it seemed as though it was
constantly stimulating them like constant feeding. Early in [illegible] another very severe
spell 2 degrees below zero one day, zero next. Heavy snow. On the 20th weather more moderate but no
bees flying. Examined, very many bees hatched, good spread of sealed brood, but
few larvae unsealed and only a few eggs. Showing that breeding had been suspended
during the very cold spell, and the eggs and very young larvae removed. (February 25th) warm,
mean in AM 60 degrees bees in full flight. A large spread of eggs and larvae, and the
colony in fine heart, in the apiary of a neighbor, very much stronger stocks in their
hives with chaff cushions and [illegible] boards had no brood at all. Bees had no
winter passages. In apiary of another neighbor in their hives with winter passages,
some brood but very little compared with mine, I have [illegible] an old comb
over mine and the bees always cluster under it, have even put honey in it. 
It forms the winter shell on chamber to allow them to pass from comb to comb. (26th)
4 AM 28 degrees, 7 AM 16 degrees, 9 AM 14 degrees. Furious wind with snow flurries. Gave
stock a flat bottle with slot in Cork so that they could get water
from it laid under the cushion. Saw dust at entrance unfrozen, and bees coming
out and turning back, a few actually took wing and were lost, closed the entrance
with saw dust. (27th) 2 to 22 degrees clear, calm, examined when 10 degrees, bees on the
Cork of water bottle. (28th) 20 to 48 degrees removed Corn and chaff cushion, on lifting up the
carpet over the bottle a string extended to Cork, cover and quilt off some time bees retracted
from bottle though covered with carpet. Examined combs, large cluster on candy, eggs and young
larvae plenty, brooding hardly at all checked by very cold weather. I now form the winter shallow
Chamber of an old comb, and put carpet over the comb, hole in center of comb. Bees not at all disposed to
nibble at carpet as though it was next to them. If food is to be given on the comb, small stocks should be upon
it to allow bees to get it. D. A. McCord of this town showed me the following plan to give
bees water and candy, devised from my conversations with him. 1, 2 wood to fill up frame
3, 4 flour candy poured in to Harden. 5 a flat bottle with good sized lamp wick in cork to
draw up the water so that bees can use it. If chaff cushion had a good sized hole in it
and bottle went [illegible] it covered on top with wool I think it would be better, only a small slot in Cork
to come over hole in covering comb, when bottle not in use hole in chaff cushion shut with wool or
woolen rag. This accessible without lifting cushion or disturbing bees. Honey if needed might be fed
with such a bottle feeder. Candy and water given after good cleansing flight if the season is
right to encourage breeding. March 1st to [illegible] Has been too cold for bees to fly. Snow on 2nd. 



