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. 35 lbs. No. 4. 42 lbs. 2. 38 -- 5. 32 -- 3. 40 -- 6. 37 -- --- --- 113 111 --- --- 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. 15 lbs. No. 4. 37 lbs. 2. 16 -- 5. 27 -- 3. 19 -- 6. 32 -- -- -- 50 96 -- -- So that the three hives, remaining in their summer quarters during the winter, had decreased in weight just 63 lbs. being on an average 21 lbs. each; while the three which had wintered on the north side of my house had decreased only 15 lbs. being on an average only 5 lbs. each. This gives an average difference of 16 lbs. a hive, between a proper and an improper winter situation and aspect for Bees. It is lamentable to think how many people lose their Bees, either from ignorance, prejudice, or want of attention to this particular point--_a proper winter situation_. I need scarcely relate to my readers, that the Bees which were placed fronting, or open to the north, were the first that swarmed the next spring. They swarmed in the month of May; while those hives that had remained fronting, or open to the south, did not swarm until July; and one hive (No. 2.) never swarmed at all during the season. At the latter end of October, 1825, I again weighed my hives, and found them to be as under:-- No. 1. 28 lbs. Swarm from ditto 10 lbs. 2. 22 -- 3. 30 -- Swarm from ditto 14 -- -- -- 80 24 -- -- No. 4. 44 lbs. Swarm from ditto 32 lbs. 5. 43 -- Swarm from ditto 28 -- 6. 41 -- Swarm from ditto 30 -- --- -- 128 90 --- --