Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-12-26

Wintering Bees.

ten. and TO solve which, many experiments
have been tried. Ia climate like ours
where the winters are severe. with cold late
springs. !, requires thorough knouledee
Of the degree Of cold and moisture tina, bees
can bear wi,hou, INJURY. and much cIperi
ence. in order 10 enable the bee keeper TO
cave III. bees from the dangers with which
they are surrounded
One Of the variety ct way, that has oeen
adopted for wintrrin. bees. is to bDy them
Some persons place them in 100" o' toe"
dwelling or ou,euilding. aid Others place
them in the cellar. Jade'nc from expert
enee and rca.on. I should .ay that none OF
these method. are advisable. Buryine bee
in the ground consider very unsafe way,
although I have heard at .warms that have
done we'll when buried. but ! think they
have oitcncr been destroyed. l, depend.
crea, deal upon the season. II We have
cold. dry winter. the bees will perhaps eur
,iye n they are well protected from the
moisture Of the earth. by plenty OF straw
around the hivc- bu, II tho winter - open
and rainy. they cannot avoid the Effects OF
tic surrounding moisture, and the comb.
will certainly mold. aud the bees, IN eon.e
quence. die Bers placed IN the c"llar are
liable 20 injury from the causes named
above. especially when the cellar Is. damp
one. but thi. method | a ink Is much 10
be rreivrrcd To tina, OF buryinc the hive.
Another objection to this method IS. the
temperature OF the surrounding AIR, al
,hough ne-Tl, or quite uniform, isso high
ttat the bees dc.ire 10 leave their hives. and
II confined become restless, and grel; nun
l.-r- perish IN their effort. to ert out.
Swaru.- no doubt often d,e IN such a p,ua.
ton. iha, would have -ur,Ivcd the winter
had they Acen properly cared Tor. and pro-
yldrd wiih an air chamber Jr empty space
above them. with passages leh'i'us thereto.
B,r. gen rate = great amour, ct moisture.
and wh-u every part of the Inv" - tilted
With ccrn', and tie colony popul'us orc.
Il ~ cmpy space he rros,i d connecting
With tie main hive. tie IN 'is,ure ari-'ng
from tie hrraih OF tie bees. vii iairly
drusn them
y coli dry a'mo.Ph re j. much to b" Pre-
ferrd. To warm or damp one. IN which
to keep bees dur'rs the c'h sea-ou. l;
should Ne the Object ct the be- keeper To
place hi- hce- IN such a position. that they
will be- affected ~ the change. IN the wealth
er a. little II. ro..,his To attain th,. ob.
j,ct. the hives .hould re placed where the
sun will no, strike them at all during the
day. The b,-t Nay Is 10 have u house en-
.,ruc;ed IA such way THAI the hives can
be moved back when winter let's 10. 50 that
tie ray. Of the sun will 10 ward~d 0f. and
hlvin: the housc boarded nightly all round
except ~ 'front.'. the heat Of the sun would
not 81 c, them much. ~ a further pro.
lection. temporary PARTITION should Ocpu,
up IA front OF the hlyr.. extending down 10
within couple of inches OF the passage
way. TIL. partition should he placed Tar
enough frnm the back side Of the house. 10
allow space OG Eve % .H inches between
the house AMI hive. and about the same IN
front from have 10 partition. Thu. space
should 10 filed with fine straw or hay. well
crowded in. Wilt -ay here that 1t the
hive. are Sled With combs down close 10
the bottom board. shallow bnx. .ay three
or lOur inches IN heisl {. open at both erds.
just the diameter of the hives. should he
placed under each cue Thu. will preven,
the passage way. from being elocged nv the
bees ,ha, will die and drop down more or
les during ths winter. II the hive. are
Constructed with chambers. the boxe- should
be removed. AMI the passages leading up
ward unelOs,d The best Liye have tried
in which to winter bee,. il cruss BAG hive
o! nv own Construction. n detailed account
OF which may give Jour rsaiers a; some
future tine. Thi. has movable super up
on the top. inc,osins the boxes for surplus
honey. The boxes are removed and the gu
Per replaced, thus HajriIns an air chamber.
IN which the moisture generated by the bee.
collects, Inst'al OF being retained within
Oh, hive. ! do not confne nv bees a, MI
Dunn: the winter. but take care to keep
the entrances shadsd rs much as possible
during warm d'ys; this. With tie proIee-
ton Of straw. and lhe arrangement ds-erib-
ed abuve. keep. them quiet, and but few
are lost IN consequence OF their leaving the
hives
IL one has be-, iew swarns. and ha. NJ;
a CONVENIENT place to winter them out VI
DOOR. 70 ia god plan to remove them to
.ope ousbulldun:. aud inclos, each hive ~
a h'S made tor the purpose Bees will hear
Confinement IRON che ui,dii. ul ID .crmbrr Z
the last ui March a. our w,n,er. u.uaii,
are. and no, seem 10 sdfer. a. Tar As n,
experience ~. te.s ds 10, sud lrom no.
vu,ding thar iecrs tnat length OF time l.
KEPT quiet although should, II Pps-ible.
prefer ~ give them An airing occasionally