hives, that the bees are often induced to venture abroad, and, soon chilled by the cold, they fall in hundreds on the snow, and, if not timely succoured, will ultimately perish. This evil may be prevented in some degree by turning, as soon as winter has set fairly in, the hives round on their stands, so that the entrance may face the north.[1] If this precaution has not been taken in time, and the unfortunate wanderers are already prostrate on the snow, let them be instantly gathered, placed in a vessel, (a dinner-dish-cover, for example,) having a piece of
- ↑ Mr. Nutt, the Lincolnshire Bee-Master alluded to in page 182, gives, in his work, an account of an experiment to ascertain the effect of changing the site of hives from a southern to a northern exposure during winter. He took six hives weighing as under, and placed three on the north side of his house, leaving the other three in their usual situation. In November 1834,
No. 1 weighed 35 lbs. No. 4 weighed 42 lbs. 2 — 38 5 — 32 3 — 40 6 — 37 113 111 The first three, Nos. 1, 2, & 3, weighing 113 lbs., remained during winter in their summer situations. Nos, 4, 5, & 6, were removed to a cold dry place on the north side of his house. On the 26th of the following March they weighed as follows
No. 1. weighed 15 lbs. No. 4. weighed 37 lbs. 2. — 16 5. — 27 3. — 19 6. — 32 50 96 The three first, therefore, lost 63 lbs., on an average 21 lbs. each; the three last decreased only 15 lbs., average 5 lbs each. The three last swarmed in May, the three first not till July.
