Year: 1861

MES to Winter. Most of the loss during


Winter and Spring, is the result of IN


dertaking to keep improper colonies, or of


bed management. The chances Of sue


cess with colony that is now in just the


right condition, with honey enough, and


the right number of bees, are three times


better, than with one that needs to be


supplied with some food. We cannot


supply deficiency, and then have the


same natural condition as when the bees
provide for themselves. When increase


Of stocks is not pa -ticuia:ly desired, the


good ones only should Gc saved. But


many, and especially beginners 17;thou;


experience, will want to keep all they


have, and it is important that they attend


to any deficiencies that can be supplied


this month. Success will very much de-


pend on doing things at the right time


Examine them the first cool morning.


A strong colony extends through all the


combs. One of only moderate strength,


will often make a show of large swarm,


if the combs are badly diseased, or very


full of honey. If a stock lacks bees only


TO make it good, they may be added from


some condemned colony, paralyzing both


with puff bali smoke when uniting them


See directions for the process in .Agri-


CultUrist for October, 1860.


When there are bees enough, but


honey is lacking, It may be provided, if


there are combs enough in the hives to


hold it; if not, the bees should be taken


out, and the hive and contents set awav


for another year, or the honey given to


some other light stock. Honey in the


Combs when fed should have the sealing


Of the combs cut off, and placed either


under the bees-the bottom of the hive


fitting down close, TO keep out the rob-


bers- or placed on the top, covering with


a close box. When no honey can be had


but such as is taken from diseased stocks,


it must be strained and scalded, or disease


will be communicated Add a little


water to prevent burning, and take off the


scum as it rises. Put it in a shallow


dish, with some floating material to keep


the bees from drowning Feed them as


fast as possible to the required weight


20 or 25 lbs-otherwise they consume a


great deal in rearing brood which the


feeding will always induce. West India


honey when used, should be used in the


same way. Honey prepared for Winter


stores. should be as near the consistency


of that stored by the bees as possible


If too much water is left in IL, it is apt to


induce dysentary. bat it is quite sure to


burn in scalding, if some water IS not left


in it, When no other feed but sagar is
used l think it is better to give it in the


winter than now. Candy alone has
proved failure with me.


: Condemned colonies should now be dis
5 posed Of When the bees are to be
: killed with the fumes of the sulphur pit,
t it is much the best way to drive out the
bees first. 1t takes less time, than to get
them out when removing the honey after


being smothered between the combs
! The honey also, will be free from any of
the effects of burning sulphur. Break up
such combs as are to be strained, Imme-
diately on the removal of the bees; the
2 honey Will run out much more freely than
t when cold. If the combs are not too old,
: few pieces nearly free from bee
bread, may be found near the top and
sides of the hive, which viii do for the


table without straining. The inferior
; honey is near the middle and bottom, and


should be strained. Among the different
= methods of doing 1t, one is simply to mash
= it and pour through a sieve or colander to
Il skim off the particles of comb. A box
S answers a good purpose for large quan.
= titles. 1t should be about four feet long
e sixteen inches wide, by five deep, and
{ wire cloth bottom This should be on a
@ frame four feet high. Under the box is
a board of the same width and length
! with narrow strips nailed on the edges tC
: keep the honey from running over the
: side. One en1 is raised, and the honey
Il drains from the other into some large
;, vessel, half barrel or ferhin. The par
! ticles of combs will all rise to the top IN
J. a day or two, it can then be drawn from


a tap near the bottom perfectly clear. TC
0 prevent It's becoming very hard In cold
q weather, put two gl!ls of water TO ter
. pounds, mixing thoroughly If preferred
. in the solid form, fill shallow dishes TO the
=, depth of an inch, and expose it to the
= cOldest weather for a few weeks. Me
theglin and vinegar may be made very
/ cheaply from the refuse of strained honey
s After all has drained out that will. cove
n with boiling water, or scald over the fire
% stirring thoroughly. Let it stand da!
or Two. when Ii may be drained from tht


combs the same as honey, then boil ant


skim ill clear. The strength NAV b.


tested with an egg, when the upper sid
. rises an eighth of an inch above the sur
ID face Il will do. 1t Is put in some conven
NJ lent vessel and allowed to work. when
Y. may b. closed p and sci away 10 grov
: better with age. For vinegar. add abou
r three parts Of water to Que of the above
,e and then manage as with cider, or orhe
Z. material used for the same purpose.


~ Combs that have been soaked in water
IS will soon spoil with mold They shoul'
of be Immediately made into wax. These
Le together with other pieces Of dry combs
~ when 10 small quartities. may be put TO


gether into a sack Of loose texture, with


small stone to make 1t sink, aud kept in
le kettle Of boiling water, frequently push
le ing il about nll the wax ceases to rise.
le Is SKINNED off. remelted, and cooled i


any desirable shape. For large Quanti