The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-12-08
WINTERIN0 ne Es.

EDS. PRAIRIE FARMER Mr.. q.
Sprague, Of Fulton, Whiteside County,
Illinois, has devised 4 plan which with
some notifications, promises to effect IS
great an improvement in wintering bees,
as the movable comb frames have wrought
in handling aud managing them. He
has tested it for three years, frst with
nioe, then With sixty four, and last wiu-
ter with seventy Eve stocks, without loos.
ing one where the bees had suffi cient hon.
ey, although from the extreme cold Of last
winter, many bee keepers in his vicinity
lost nearly all their colonies.
Having noticed ths. dry corn cobs we're
admirable absorbsuts Of moisture, and
non conductors Of heat. it occurred .o
him to remove, in the fall, the honey
board, and use cobs iu its place. These
can be easily cut to suitable lcug.hs with
a sharp hstchet, SO that two rows laid
crosswise, will exactly cover the tops Of
tho frames, By aIteruatly placing the rows
but to but, aud point " puiut. A few
nails in the front or rear ledge Of the hive,
or tacks in the tops of tho frames for the
outer cobs Of each row to rest against,
will keep them 10 place when tho cover OF
the hive is raised.
Mr. Sprague has machine by which
he cuts thirty or forty cobs per minute,
and in one day he can cut and sdjust
enough for fifty stocks. If stored in q
dry place they are almost as durable as
cork; to which in warmth aud dryuess
they bear close resemblance.
Mr.. SprsSus says that the bees easily
pass from comb to comb, uoder the warm
hollows made by the cobs, where they lie
against each other; thus requiring co
other winter passage. In the c,ldest
weather his bees ure warm and dry, ad
herring closely to the lower sides Of the
cobs, aud they come out Of winter quar-.
ters in prime condition, very few hay
ing died in the hives. The frost which
often collects 10 the upper cover of the
hive, cannot when melted, vet the colony,
as the cobs will absorb and retain all the
dampness which can possibly arise from
"ths breath of the bees" Before using
the cobs, his colonies when wiutered on
their summer stands, we're often in the
spring both weak and sickly. BY re-.
moving the honey-board, he sometimes
saw large drops Of water on the tops Of
the frames, even when all it's holes had
been left open for the escape Of damp.
ness; and in some instances, tho bees
were SO drenchcd that sudden change
to severe Temperature, would have fro,
zen them into solid mass if loft iu the
open air.
Mr. Sprague further claims that the
cobs enable him without any drawback
in wintcring his bees, 10 use a low or
shallow h;9e, which shape he is satisfied,
after much experience, yields more sur.
plus honey in marketable form, than can
be obtained from taller hives.
Since Mr. Sprague communicated his
plan to me, have placed layer Of cobs
on the bottom board, also suspending the
frames on cobs fastcned to the rabbets;
and have lined the siaes with cob, held
in an upright position by 6oe annesled
iron wire, fastened to the heads Of nails
driven into the sides Of the hive.
I think these sides and bottom Innings
are great improvement, and that the
saving of honey will more than pay for
their additional cost. Many however,
will prefer Mr.. Sprague's plan, as i. re-.
quires less labor, and may be used when
the lateness Of the season does not permit
a more thorough lining Of the hive.
If any stocks arc likely to need feeding,
l would advise shortening two or more
of the central cobs of each row, so as TO
leave q space for piece Of old comb or
u shallow feeder, which when covered
with cobs and old WOODEN garments, will
allow the bees to be safely fed in the
coolest weather. In the Spring, o little
food to stimulate breeding may be sprink-
led on the cobs, or water, when the wealth.
er is to chilly to allow the bees to venture
abroad
In many parts Of Europe vhero corn.
cobs cannot be obtained, rinter lining
for movable comb hives may be made Of
straw. Permanent lininss of straw are
Objectionable, because they afford in snm
mer an excellent harbor for the lsrvx of
Tho bee moth, and occupy 80 much room
that the siso and cost Of tho hive must be
considerably Increased. There is 40 need
'f any summer lining to prevent the
combs Of movsbie frame hives from being
melted by the heat; as with proper ven.
'ilation, such hives way be safely exposed,
f necessary, to the full heat Of our hot.
lest suns.
There can be no question thst corn.
,obs are preferable to straw either -
temporary or permanent Innings for bee
aives; and the lovers Of the busy bee il |.