The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-11-25
farm aud Nuusehold.
From the Rural American. J
vViutcrfng yBpes.

Wintering honey bees is attended gener-
allv with moro loss OF families or stocks,
than at any other season of the year. No
rules can be given that win prevent such
loss in all cases, nor will many years OF ex.
pcrience always afford sufficient knowledge
of tho treatment they require, TO insure cN-
emption from loss, during the winter. in
many cases.
There arc various methods Of protecting
bees in winter. Some bec.tccpers put their
hives in their cellars but unless cellars
arc very dry and airy, the combs will mould
in some degree, and the bees will suffer
from dampncss. Some put their hives in
urpcr rooms, and frequently over room
where there is a fire. and the result IL, that
IN a mild spell Of weather, il is too warm
for them in such rooms, and II not confined
70 their hives, large numbers escape, and
hy to the windows and there perish. II
tho windows are darlcncd. some rays oi
light will appear aud the bees viii be at
tracted 10y them, aud go so far from the
hives that they DO not roturn.
If the bees are confined to their hives,
the mortality is often greater than when al
lowed to go out, IN consequence OF large
numbers gathering around The passage
ways, where they become chilled, aud die.
Il is best, when put into an upper room.
Gro in any manner Tho windows should
be darkencd so as to admit no light and az
much ventilation as possible should he af-
fordcd 10 the bees. II is good plan to set
tho hives upon wirc.cloth frames, raised
from the floor at the corners, an inch o.
two, so as TO admit IA current of air under
them. Or the hives may be turned bottoms
up, and loosely woven cloth tied over the
ends of the hives, which allows the foul air
of the hives 10 pass ont upward through
the cloth. This plan also affords "A good
way to feed bees in winter. In the even
ing, the cloth may I've removed and honey
in the comb laid horizontally in contact
with the combs where the bees are cluster
ed, 1--WE refer to partly filed hivcs) which
the bees can reach easily. In some cases it
will be well frat TO lay in n couple of sticks
horizontaly, to fit the width of the hive 30
tightly as to be thus held in their proper
position without much support on the
honey-combs Of the hive.
Our readers will please note, that we are
not now recommending the wutering bees
in either cellars or in upper rooms but
merely giving our views on what ought to
be done, if thus wintcrcd. In some sea.
sons, when the winter remains uniformly
cold, it does very well to thus winter them
In mild winters, we are unwilling to vouch
for thoir safety.
Some bee.keopcrs bury their bees in the
ground, and report that they come out in a
healthy conditions but this is a hazardous
experiment. On high sandy ground it may
do, by following the annexed system in it,
main features Excavatc the earth about
iS inches and upon the bottom of the
trench lay u thick coat Of straw or hay, and
upon this place two scantlings, upon which
tie hives are TO be set, without bottoms
thus raising them thrcc or four inches from
the earth. Next place rye straw against
the hives so as to be about six inches thick
when compressed, against which bank NJ
with earth taken ont of tho trench to The
tops of tho hives, over which throw
covering of straw, and then lay upon th,
hives roof, made hy mailing two boards
together At right angles. The straw vii
allow some air to enter and to escape from
the hives, and if the soil is not worry damp
this system of wintcring bees is frequent,
successful, but it consists of only partia
burial of them.
We forgot TO say, that when many bee
arc confined in cellar, or room, they IT
quire ventation-m have il. Ten lami
lies of bees, in room | 5 feet square, woul,
destroy tho vitality of the air in such Il room
almost daily, except in very cold weather.