Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-02-19

and April, when the rapidly increasing
Ie amount of brood causes an increased de-
as mand Of water.
s. The particular use or uses which bees
s. make OF water, remains one of the "mys-
d, teries of the hive" In the raising of
brood, however, its agency is that of a
is diluter, indispensable in the forming Of
y honey and pollen into jelly for feeding
the larym. l4a---44-..-s-s.
u The amount of water consumed BY q
n colony during any given period, has not
d been definitely ascertained by the writer
: IN his own experience. This point, how
ever, has been !duly determined by that
e prince OF modern apiarians, the Baron of
E berlepsch. The Baron says "that in
[ 1896, during protracted period of un-
favorable weather, we gave all our bees
water, and they remained at home in qui.
ct, while those of other aparians soere
flying brtshly in search of ,catsr. At
the beginning of May, our hives were
crowded with bees, whilst the colonies of
our neighbors a0ere mostly ,ceak." "One
hundred stocks required eleven Berlin
quarts per week, to keep on breeding un-
'"ferraPtedty.' "Dysentery is one of the
direct consequences of water-dearth, the
bees in dire need of water consuming
honey immoderately, and taking cold by
roaming about the combs"
For the translation of the Baron's
(German) experiment we are indebted
to that highly accomplished friend of ap-
iculture, Mr.. Samuel Wagner Of York,
Penn.
1t is said that sin the Isle of Wight
the people have a notion that every bee
goes down to the sea to drink twice a
day" Thus it will be seen that bees are
unable to progress with the raising Of
brood without the daily consumption Of
water for that purpose. Indeed, the COM
monwealth of the hive, in consequence
of a dearth Of water, are brought to the
verge of ruin. Furthermore, that the
Creator did not arrange for the storing
up es wa,or oy peesj therefore, they are
not susceptible of being naturalised to
cold climates. Hence it ought not to be
expected that they should thrive and
flourish in regular prosperous degree
except it be by culture from the intelli-
gent supervision Of the apiarian.
Bees, when confined by stress of wealth
er after breeding has begun, can obtain
the water they need only (if duly ven
tilatedD from the watery particles cons
tanned in the honey. A knowledge of
these facts reveals not only the truth and
nature of natural obstacle to success,
but also the mode of counteracting it,
Thus, by feeding bees limited quantities
Of honey and sugar, largely diluted with
water at short intervals during March
aud April, they promptly store up very
iilute honey from which they get ade-
luate supplies, in ordinary contingencies.
This affords them all the facilities needed
% "multiply and replenish" the hive.--
Herein consists the means by which, and
,nly so, the ultimatum of success is at
ainable.
Bee keepers who have given any at
ention to feeding colonies, unite in affirs
ming that stocks thus fed swarm 10 to IA
lays earlier than they otherwise would.
This is of paramount importance, as the
ew days thus gained in the honey, moon,
ecures to first swarms some fifty per
,ent more stores, besides affordng after
warns like benefit. The cause of these
advantages have generally, through mis-
apprehension, been ascribed to the incite-
nent produced by the saccharine contain
d in the feed, while the water, though
verooked, is evidently the chief cause,
$ judicious feeding will produce the like
fleet with colonies having an excess of
oney, as those possessing limited stores
{ it.
Many bee-keepers still manage bees
ccording to the popular notions, which
onsists in hiving the swarms when they
ssue, and giving them careful letting
lone, thus expecting to follow Nature
y counterfeiting ,oild bee>keeping.-
Those who persist in this, of course WiK
ot be benefited by experience or any
hing which might be published. Indeed,
be sooner these traditioners' bees run
ut, the sooner will this wild crude prac-
ce become extinct, and new era of a
ationaI system Of culture will be the
Apply result.
The seeming difficulty Of executing
ais care, has much TO do with its univer-
al adoption. The writer having had no
practical experience with
ees, beginning while bee>keeping was
a its pristine state, is aware that the un-
ertaking Of these manipulations seems
cry much like offensive warfare, and to
o one any more so than originally with
imself, but none are now less timid in
his "labor of love" than he is.
G. j. ROBINSON.