Removing Supers.—All super as well as nadir hives should now be removed, reducing the room occupied by each stock as much as possible.
Ventilation.—In hives of wood I have always found it necessary during the winter months to withdraw one of the slides at the top of the hive, and place over the opening a feeder or small glass for the purpose of carrying off the condensed vapour, which would otherwise run down the sides of the hive, and cause dampness and mouldiness to the combs, and sometimes the entire destruction of the stock. Mr. Taylor gives a drawing of a condenser for this purpose in his "Bee-Keeper's Manual," page 142, fourth edition, which I have found to be very useful where a feeding-pan could not be placed.
Removing Bees.—Should any of our readers, from what has already been said, feel disposed to try a northern aspect for their Bees, I would recommend their not being removed at this time, except they are brought from a distance, and when it is immaterial at what time they are removed; but if it be only from one part of the same garden to another, it will, be it when it may, be attended with considerable loss; therefore it had better be done when the cells are filled with brood—perhaps towards the end of March.
Advantages of a Northern Aspect.—I still continue to receive very favourable reports from those persons who have tried a northern aspect for their hives. The results in every case already represented to me have been satisfactory; but I am persuaded that the greatest care must be taken to keep the whole exterior of the hives from wet, where they are not placed in a Bee-house; and however averse I may hitherto have expressed myself to the use of Bee-houses, I am now inclined to think that where a northern aspect is decided upon they may be necessary. In Devonshire it may not be required; but wherever hives are placed in this aspect without the protection of a house, I would particularly recommend that, be the coverings whatever they may, they be sufficiently large to prevent the drip from hilling upon the floor-boards of the hives; for this would engender dampness, and the loss of the stock would, in all probability, be the consequence.
Bee-Houses.—It must be remembered that, wherever they are adopted, they require the greatest care as to neatness and cleanliness, for at best they are hiding places for the Bees' worst enemies.
DECEMBER.
Those persons who have been so fortunate in this untoward season as to obtain a few glasses of honey from their Bees' must now look well to their stocks, and by judicious feeding, get them up to 20 lbs. at least, if it has not been already done. I would very strongly recommend the food being supplied at the top of the hive; and should the Bees be in a hive that has not a hole in the top, with a sharp knife make one forthwith, for the danger as well as the inconvenience of feeding at the bottom, and more especially at this season, is very great.
Food.—I believe the best food that can be given, next to honey, which in some years is far too expensive for feeding, is one pound of loaf sugar, one quarter of a pint of water, and one quarter of a pound of honey, simmered for a few minutes over a slow fire till the sugar is melted, and when quite cold,, given to the Bees, and at the top of the hive if possible.
Stocks will require but little attention during this month beyond cleaning the floor-boards, and seeing that there is neither damp nor mould in the hives; and if the floor-boards are observed to be quite dry, it will be a pretty sure indication that all is right within. Stopping-up, however, must not be forgotten when snow lies upon the ground, if the Bees are so placed that the sun shines upon their hives. Shading during the winter months is practised by many persons, and is a very good plan; but when we come to have all our Bees placed in the north, it will be rendered unnecessary. An intelligent cottager brought me a very ingeniously-contrived little apparatus for preventing the sun's rays in winter inducing the Bees to come out, and at the same time preventing the cold winds from blowing into the hives. It is a piece of three-quarter-inch deal, 3 inches wide, and 21/2 long, reduced at one end (not in thickness) so as to fit in the mouth of the hive, and then with a gouge the under side is hollowed-out for about 2 inches in length, and five-eighths of an inch in breadth, in a straight line with the entrance of the hive; another hollow of the same dimensions is then made, intersecting at right angles the one already made, so that if the hive faces the south, the Bees come out east and west. The under side has this appearance. Care, however, must be taken that this little contrivance is not pushed into the hive beyond the thickness of the straw; and it must also be remembered that it will require to be taken out occasionally, to brush away the dead Bees that may accumulate inside, or the passage may become blocked up, and the health of the stock endangered.
