There is no part of Bee-management more utterly disregarded by cottage-hive Bee-keepers than that which relates to a proper situation for store-hives during winter. From whatever cause this inattention may proceed,—whether from custom, ignorance, or prejudice, it is much to be regretted; because nothing is so essentially conducive to the future prosperity, and often to the very preservation, of a colony, as due attention to its winter situation. Left, as stock-hives commonly are, in their summer aspect, and to stand upon the very spot they have occupied ever since the day of their existence as stocks,—with their entrances wide open, just as they were in summer,—exposed alike to every change of weather and to every attack of prowling enemies; or, if covered at all, it is mostly with a rude coat of straw, or reed, or such material as affords to mice, vermine, and various sorts of Bee-enemies, shelter and concealment, and, in fact, encouragement to attack and destroy the hives. Thus, neglected and unheeded, it is no wonder that so many stocks of Bees perish in the winter and spring of every year; the wonder rather is that any should escape.

Some apiarian authors are opposed to the confinement of Bees in their hives, except when snow is on the ground: then, and then only, they recommend the confinement of Bees as necessary for their safety. Now, I would respectfully ask—if, in the North of England and in Scotland, snow does not lie on the ground for weeks, and in some years for months together? and I would ask further—if Bees can bear this confinement with snow on the ground, why they cannot bear it when there is no snow? They argue, however, in the face of this admission, that confinement is injurious to Bees, and that a flight in the open air on a fine day, if there should happen to be a fine day, in the depth of winter, is beneficial to Bees, otherwise, they say, the Bees would not take it. A mild, open winter, every body knows, renders unconfined Bees poor—and when kept in a state of perpetual agitation and alarm by the restless enemies that surround them and nestle in their straw covering, and tempted by the faint, wintery sun-beams that gleam upon their floor-board through the unclosed entrance of their hives, they will, no doubt, sometimes sally forth. But what is the consequence? Hundreds and thousands of them become paralyzed[K] and never return; and those that do get home again have occasion for food: of course, the oftener these winter flights take place, the more the population of the hives they issue from is diminished, and the more pauperized that diminished population becomes in consequence of such flights: whereas, if Bees were confined, kept in darkness, or, at any rate, out of the influence of the sun, kept dry, cool, still, and undisturbed, no such disastrous consequences would ensue.

[K] In the 15th page of his "Apiarian's Guide," J. H. Payne, Esq. says—"a Bee becomes torpid at a temperature of thirty-two degrees"—Payne is an experienced apiarian. What credit then is due to the anonymous critic, who in one of the weekly periodicals[L] has told us that "Bees in a glass hive, exposed in the open air, when its temperature was twenty degrees below freezing, instead of being in a state of of torpor, continued very lively?!!"—Before yielding implicit credence to this statement, it would be exceedingly satisfactory to be informed how long the Bees so exposed continued very lively.

[L] Mechanics' Magazine, No. 564, p. 155.

The following detail will show my readers the results of some experiments, relative to the aspect and situation of Bee-hives during winter; and whilst in some degree they corroborate the foregoing observations, they may perhaps induce those, who are anxious for the prosperity of their Bees, to submit to be taught a useful lesson respecting the winter management of them.

In 1824 I had six cottage-hives, which had prospered well with me during the summer of that year. In the autumn of the same year I resolved to weigh those six hives, and to place three of them on the north side of my house, and to let the other three remain in their summer situation. The separate weights of my hives, in November of the year 1824, were as under, viz.

No.1.35lbs. No.4.42lbs.
2.38—5.32—
3.40—6.37—
113111

The first three of these Nos. viz. 1, 2, and 3, weighing together 113 lbs. remained during the winter in their summer situation: Nos. 4, 5, and 6, weighing together 111 lbs. were removed to a cold dry place, on the north side of my house. On the 26th of March, 1825, I again weighed those six hives, and found their respective weights to be as follows, viz.

No.1.15lbs. No.4.37lbs.
2.16—5.27—
3.19—6.32—
5096