The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-03-08
sae Bce Culture. -.NO. 1.
[rrom the Northwestern Farmer.

country is at very low mark: indeed,
as = certain aud profitable branch OF bus
mess it cannot be said to exist at all; fer
while a very few rersuc it with profit,
thousands who keep bees never rcaHz
anything beyond ni>laps AID losses. 1t
is sad story, and we have heard 1t
grea: many timcs--,la, old bce-kccprrs
relate about their "luck' with bees
They have kept bees great many years,
but with new swarms leaving after beng
hived, aud losses from starvation, from
moth, from overswarmiIg Z, and from
other unknown causes, they just ab"ut
keep the old number -oot--somctllncs
winter finding them with a large number
Of swarms; and then hoping for some
returns the next year, they take courage.
but before spring arrives their hopes are
wasted, for they find many of their
stocks dead Aud then whcn The spring
opens, others ere 50 weak and feeble that
they are unable to cast swarm until
very late at best.
These are some Of the troubles crd
perplexing casualties attending bee
keeping on the old plan of management.
At best it is most haphazard undertake
ing ; and one must yield cntirel 10 the
capriccs Of the insect, which bcin. in an
artiiciil or unnatural condition, and out
of its native, warm attitudes, often ur1-
hcts the very means necessary for its
safety and life. Hari"s ~~>,''"h ?oT
hp ,f I,aa all n
in this country, our CONCLUSIONS are that
the whole thing is a matter Of guess
work and uncertainty; that the most in
tcli'gcnt apiaiiau, depend wh""y or
nearly so, UPON whimsical notions re
spectin. tho likes and dislikes Of their
pets-bclievins that all, both failure
and success deperd upon '''uch," and
the capriccs of these insects that if they
take dislike to their owner. they will
often leave in spite Of all his efforts to
keep them; and that they Frequently be.
come so cross and irritable Us to be the
dread Of tie household, when :cv are
neglected through fear, and it is only
the strongest colonies that out!lyg exc
mics and bad treatment
In favorable summers ana war win
tiers, bees will prosper, tina. is, viii nc
cumuIate stores sufficient for themselves,
and some to spare in nearly all localities;
but IN untuvorablc seasons they die of
in immense numbcrs-so muca 20, ,ht
the stock in the country has not iaci cas-
ci at all. lie! US cnumcratc some o! Il e
causes OF the frequent losses in bee keep.
ing rs the business is carried on in this
country. First, very common cause OF
loss Of swarms in winter is ,rouf # zen
ft"t,on-want Of fresh air in Tie hive
In all hives where the coubs are last at
the top, unless especial pains are taken
IN tue construction Of the hive, there
can be no ventilation which c1n be
depended upon to carry off foul vapors
and supply fresh air. In winter this
vapor arcun ulatcs at the top Of the hive.
condcnscs into water and then freezes
further condensation and farther frecz
lnG takes place, until often the upper
part OF the combs are a solid mass ii ice
and the bees have no access t. ,hc STARE.
SO enclosed When not too cold III,
warmth Of the hive mclts this ice. and
tic water drips down among the bees,
which wvnt into winter quarters strouc
and healthy have died before snrinc.-
The same fatality will again happen this
winter We advise all who Lave bees
In common box hives to 60 At oHnc, and :
bor,, jnrr up f,a -, !, Ill.,. :: -