First of all the hive itself must be suitably protected against climate, and if it be not of a description adapted to preserve warmth, a transfer must be made to one that is. Matting or other fencework may be erected to keep off piercing winds, and hay bands may be wound around the hives. Some hives constructed Of glass are unsuited for winter occupation—even when kept within doors success is difficult and doubtful. They must be well wrapped up and covered in, and yet ventilation be allowed, for unless the moisture can pass off it will condense upon the inside of the glass, thus causing the combs to grow mouldy and directly interfering with the health of the bees. The use of such hives as the unicomb is best restricted to four months in the year, when bees are most active and interesting in their operations. An artificial swarm should be put into such a hive in May or June, and taken out again in September—never later, for there are often cold nights in October, when, the bees and brood being in near contact with the glass, and not being able to cluster as is their natural wont, they suffer greatly from the variations of temperature.
The population of each hive must also be well looked to, and if needful the uniting processes ([page 229]) must be carried out before the Michaelmas feeding. Hives that are to be so united should be gradually brought near together, if not so already.
The innermost combs, having been the ones most employed for breeding, will now be the ones least occupied with honey. It is therefore advisable to transpose them with fuller ones, in order to keep the bees clustered in the centre. They must not, however, have drone comb thus given them. In order to give them communication through the combs, "the apiarian should," says Langstroth, " late in the fall, cut with a penknife a hole an inch in diameter in the centre of each comb, about one-third from the top." This is for the purpose of allowing the bees in cold weather to move in a body, without going outside the frames, from combs where they have consumed the food to others that have honey within reach.
Ventilation is of great moment, but if the hive allows of its being given at the top, the entrance may then be narrowed so as only just to give free passage to the bees. Holes the size of a pin's head will allow the moisture to escape, and these must be reopened as fast as they are propolised by the bees. The occurrence of a thaw is the time when ventilation is needed in its highest degree. It is a good plan to place a bell glass over the hole in the crown-board of a wooden hive, with a zinc trough round it to receive the condensed moisture. It is also requisite to clean the floor-board, say in February; but in this and other operations the bees should not be disturbed, for if they leave the hive when they are unable to fly properly, as is the case in very cold weather, they are likely to be lost.
What further directions belong to this head will be found in the next chapter under "Diseases" and "Enemies."' Mr. Langstroth has this comprehensive sentence, the italics in which are his own. "If the colonies are strong in numbers and stores, have upward ventilation, easy communication from comb to comb, and water when needed, and the hive entrances are sheltered from piercing winds, they have all the conditions essential to wintering successfully in the open air."
CHAPTER VI.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
§ I. STINGS: THEIR PREVENTION AND CURE.
SOME of our readers may deem us neglectful in having, as it were, left them to struggle through their bee-keeping novitiate without informing them how to avoid the annoyance of stinging from their docile but well-armed flock. Of course, having described the bee dress, we have supposed that the apiarian was clad, if not "in complete steel," at least in the head-gear and gloves, which will render him invulnerable. The best safeguard from the anger of bees—as, indeed, from the malice of men—is a quiet and peaceable spirit. Never strike at a single one. The apiarian will learn to handle his bees not only as "if he loved them"—as the quaint angler says—but as if he fully believes that the bees love him. This they will do whenever he approaches and treats them gently. There are some cases of exception to this generally peaceable disposition of the bee; perchance a few bees are dyspeptic, and refuse to be pacified, let their master seek to bribe them never so wisely. Then, too, sometimes the bee-master himself may be dyspeptic, which the unerring olfactory sense of the bees speedily detects, and their anger is immediately aroused. Some few persons, owing to constitutional peculiarities in their breath or insensible perspiration, are objects of constant animosity with bees, who, by driving them from the apiary, are giving a physician's advice without charge for a fee. Some of the choicest perfumes used by ladies are offensive to bees; and one may feel very certain that the "fine puss gentleman," who disgusted the brave Hotspur with his "pouncet-box" and praise of "'parmaceti for an inward bruise," would have been speedily driven from an apiary in ignominious flight. For the same reason they will ferociously, and perhaps fatally, attack a sweaty horse, while they appear to have an equal antipathy to dogs. The hand should not be waved near them in sprinkling, as has already been remarked; nor should they so much as be pointed at when disposed to be out of temper. "Above all," says Mr. Cotton, "never blow at them; they will try to sting directly if you do." The distinguished success of Burnens in his examinations was attributed in part by Huber to his power of repressing his respiration. Confidence is another important specific: if a person covers his face with his hands the bees will attack and worry him at once and persistently; while a bee that is inclined to sting will often prefer a person who is watching at a supposed safe distance, judging such person afraid, and probably also seeing him better.