Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-01-24

would out Of dojrs, in a room above ground
| only few Bees will die with old ase "a halt pin
or so to a hive); thoro will be nons lost BY tn
chill as there would If standing o. t OF doors-con
saquently they will come Outstrong in the Sprin,
and will be kelly to throw of lsTge early swarm
should the season be favorable
should the Bee-M Master have occasion 70 examiu,
OF foed his Bees, he can easily do 90 without an
risk Of being stung OF getting them chilled Bee
not being inclined 70 sing ny from the hive ii
cold weather.
TIE TruE TO sEr rus BEES 1v 4HE CsL1.R.-
! This depends upon the severity Of the weather
| aud, whether in the Eastern or Western States
usually about the first Of December. Should We
| have cold weather and storms earlier. then per.
! hap5 the first or middle Of November would be
| preferable. I hope hereafter that Bee-keeper:
| will put their bees into winter quarters at the
commencement of cold weather, and not allow
them to remain out Of doors nearly half the win
/ ter before they give them their attention; al
though they may escape freezing at this late
| hour.
/ The Hives should BE- placed few feet apart, il
convenient, upon platforms or tables, or, if the
bottom Of the cellar be dry. a rough board under
the hive will be sufficient. If common board or
straw hives are used, they should be turned bot
/ tom side up, with the bottom boards partially
Of II the cellar is very damp and does not
freeze they should be taken from the hive unless
| the stock be a weak one. II the cellar is dart
the bees will not leave the hive, and will take no
harm in consequence Of its being open at the top
! This will let sll the dAmpness escap- that is
caused by the breath of the bees. A few augur
holes in the top Of the hive when standing in its
natural position not sufficient for the upward
ventilation, especially in damp place, in cold
weather.
There are some disadvantages in turning the
hives bottom side up, such letting all the dead
bees and bits Of comb fall to the bottom Of the
hive amongst the honey; but they are trifing
compared with the advantages gained after the
hive is righted up in the Spring. The bees will
readily clear out the dead bees and bits Of comb,
&c, leaving the combs about as white as when
frst set in.
Parties usisg the Compound or any other kind
OF hive where the whole TOP cln be removed, viii
not ind it necessary % invert it, as the cap and
surplus honey boxes can be removed and give all
the ventilation required. AL hives standing in
an upright position should have the entrance so
shallow, say one quarter Of an inch in height BY
or inches in length, as 70 prevent the mice
from entering. have frequently known Of strong
sUsrms being nearly destroyed during the winter
BY those pests.
srRTISG BEEs N TIE GROUND.
This should never be practiced in an enlightea-
ei country ike this. some Of our fore-faihers
conserved the idea years ago that bees could be
wintered in the ground, and come out as heavy in
the Spring, as they were wnenput IN, the tall
previous; and am sorry 10 say that come bee
raj ers practice the same thing yet. TINS may
seem % sOne very good in theory, bat according
80 my knowledge, very bad in practice. l an
almost constantly IN receipt Of letters from Tee
keepers, giving me cir experience IN the winter
ing and management Of their bees, &c, and IN
almost every instance where they we're barrel up
in tie ground. large portion Of Them were lost,
either in the ground, or soon after they we're Ia
ken out. While a. to thoss that did survive the
burial, their combs were SO bl4ca and damp, that
the fe- remaining bees became diseased and were
lost the following season.
In q dry place where the soil is loose and sandy.
10 doubt out that bees could Dc ~Intered II they
were properly buried, not without some loss, how
over But should 1t be q dsllp, heavy, or clay
SOIL the bees would IL perish. rome bve-ksvpers
assert that their hiFes were As heavy wheu taken
out of the grouuI, as they were when put in
This think can be accounted for, TO the satIsfsc
tion Of all. Bees require some hOney,le Jet them be
under or above ground. Bees in the cellar re-
quire but dttle honey. It would probably be
about the same IN amount in the ground. But
so many Of the bees would die, and the combs
take ap so much dampness, that it would not be
surprising if the hive had not shrunk much in
weight. Combs in all bee-hives should be changed
every three years, as they usually become black
in that time, and arc comparatively worthless to
the bees, a. they arc neither ft for storing Of
honey, or the brooding Of the young. large
amount Of bees arc lost yearly IN consequence Of
their combs not being changed.
1HE TrNE TO REMOVE BEKs OUT OF DOORS.
This depends upon the forwardness of the
Spring. From the middle Of March, to the last
Of April, is the usual time in Northern lati-
tudes. A warm day should be taken that will
allow them to ly from the hive with safety
Whore many are to be removed, only few swarms
should be set out the first day, to avoid robbery
and confusion; and care should be taken that
each hive is set where 1t is to remain through the
season, and, if possible, to occupy the same stand
tina; it occupied the year previous The early
part Of the day is preferable for their removal
when it is cool.
If Bee-keeper owns largo number OF hives,
he will find it very much to his advantage to have
each hive numbered and each number recorded IN
a book giving the age, condition, &C., as we'll as
the sge Of the queen at the time Of commencement,
which should bo in September at the close Of tho
Honey season, or in May, at the option Of the
owner. The book should be so arranged and ruled
that each swarm can have a separate page, giving
ample space for remarks, notes, &c. note of
each swarm thrown OF should be made; also the
date Of each young swarm should be entered, and
the number of tho hive it came from, and tho
amount of surplus honey each swarm collects, &c,
&c. I think the Apiarian will find himself amply
repaid for the little trouble it will give should he
adopt it.
since it is go important that the queen have so
much care and attention, they should be changed
every three years, a queen becomes barren in
that time, ard the swarm will all ru out, unless
they are furnished with young one in her stead.
By setting them out in the morning and giving
them a full outlet as the day grows wUrm, the
bees will leIve the hive gradually, and but few
OF them will be lost. 70 what there would II they
were removed Ia the middle Of tho day. Some Of
my friends have practiced, with very good sue
cess, the removal Of them back into tho cellar
again, after remaining out a day or two. After
discharging their faces, which they will do i'm
mediately If the weather should bo warm enough,
and then by givin. them Rye meal, which Is a
very good substituto for bss-brosd, and removing
them into their quarters again for three or four
weeks, many valuable bees will bo ssved, that
otherwise would fly from the hiyo and get lost in
pursuit Of pollen. This Is che only substancs
bees 20 in pursuit Of in tho early spring. By
suppl yins them with this tubstitute in due time.
It will advance early sWsrminS very much tho
coming season. There will 10 no honey 20 he
colleoted until near the middle Of May in this
section Of country
vvrxrypfyG BEEs orr OF mons