Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-09-13

Bees.

Inc piotracted dfouth which mas reduced
the hay crop fully one-third in this vicinity,
also dried up the white clover as soon as
blown, thus cutting off our main dependence
for box honey and leaving our hives light for
winter. AS the honey began to fail in the
first Of the swarming season, but few swarms
issued, and many of those will need feeding to
survive the winter. How wise the instinct
given them that as soon as the harvest of
honey fails they stop sending forth swarms
though they have made extensive preparations
to issue
The fore part of the season was very ia
vorablc, and l never saw my bees in SO good
condition Oh the first OF June as this year.
| commenced examining my stock Aug. %,
to ascertain the exact amount oil honey in
each hive, and to learn the exact condition of
my new swarms. My increase has been thir-
ty new ones from my fifty wintered last win
ter. [ found a number Of them with but a lit
tie honey, yet half full Of comb. immedi'
atoly united them, putting all of the honey
and bees of two in'o one hive thus making
Que good swarm that will winter with a little
feeding.
1t is we'll known to practical apiarists that
two swarms with fifteen pounds of honey each,
will starVo before spring, while if the two are
united they will not only winter safely, but
have a surplus left. 1t is upon the same prin-
cipe that cattle we'll housed eat less and
thrive better, than those exposed to the storm
and cold.
Mr. Scribnor asked me short time since
to show one advantage Of the hive that use
over his. will cheerfully do so through
your columns, so that others may see the adj
vantages Of the movable comb hives al
ways wish to know in the fall the precise
condition of each stock in order TO Judge
whether they will winter or not. Aug. %
| examined six new swarms, taking out all Of
the combs and bees, picking out the the moths,
and cleaning the hives. Two of the
Swarms found light in honey and bees l
Immediately united them, putting all Of the
honey and bees into one hive, making one
good swarm to winter, thus saving the bees
from the birthstone pit or starvation.
The time occupied in examining the six
swaims, uniting the two, lifting out the combs,
picking out the millers, took just one hour,
or ten minutes 10 the stock. | never like to
kill my bees, and by the use of this hive it
is moro profit to keep all late swcrms than it
is to kill them. If swarm has not qui.o
enough one frame Of honey may be taken
from stock that can spare it as well as not
and given to it, The whole number may be
equalzod so that each may have enough with
out destroying bee, or feeding pound OF
honey,
Mr. SIS hive, like any common box
Or straw hive, nccessitates the kilIinr of tie
late swarms and all others, when you want
the honey in the hive. Indeed consider his
hives no better than any hive of proper size
and shape, and as he has asked me to show
the same result with any other hive, will
say that his hives beside OF others have yield
ed no more than any this season and that
one man in this vicinity has taken seven aun-
dred pounds Of honey from twenty swarms,
and none of them are Of Mr. SIS descrip-
ton. If he has beat this this year with his
hive, we will try again.
L would suggest to Nr. S that a young
man may know thing Or two, and that age
and wisdom do NOT always travel together
Hardwick, Sept l. j. f. SANBoRN