The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-12-25
Winterinz Rees.

The advent of snow storms indicates
that the honey season is over and sug-
gests putting bees into winter quarters.
1t is true that if colonies are left on the
stands, with freedom to roam at will,
each warm day will witness the flight
of workers in search of stores, but the
chances are that but comparatively few
will find their way back to the hive
they left,-owing to the sudden chan
ges of weather in autumn. Snch as do
return will add little, if anything, to
the common winter hoard. In favored
or we'll sheltered positions bees will
survive our northern winters if left on
their summer stands with the custom
ary roofing over them, but, even
those would be the better for removal
to warmer and less exposed quarters, as
they would eat less, fewer would per-
isb, while the colony would be in con-
dition to give forth earlier swarms the
ensuing season. We do not know how
much chilling and freezing bees can en-
dure aud live, but the safer way would
aud recuperative powers in this way.
We have noticed, in taking up bee trees
in February, that some which seemed
frozen TO death, on being removed to
the milder atmosphere of aroom, would
quicken into life, but by far the greater
portion would give no sign of returning
animation, having passed the limits OF
a possible resurrection.
1t is the unanimous opinioa of pro-
fessional apiarians that, in the North
ern States, bee colonies should be re.
fhai ms
shelter of a warm cellar, or be buried
during the winter months, as a matter
of safety to the bees, and also OF econ
omy in their keeping. But, wherever
kept, proper ventilation should not be
forgotten, for without this the accumu-
lation of dampness will prove as detri-
mental as exposure to the rigors OF the
climate. If, on examination, but few
bees are found in colony, it is better
to unite two or more of this character
than to winter them separately, as
fewer will die, while they will eat rela-
lively less combined than single. In
his recent work on bees, n. {. Win
chell, Union, Ohio, gives his expert
ence in wintering them, and couples 1t
with the following Recommendations !:
Gas soon as winter has set In, remove
the surplus honey boxes from the hives
aud fill up the empty space with corn
cobs. They will absorb all the mols-
ture as il rises from the bees, keeping
the hive free of any moisture whatever,
and we will hear no more OF bees freeZ-
ing when the hive is full of honey. l
would say to all, use corn cobs, no mat
ter where you winter your bees, IN.
doors or out, Try the experiment, and
Won will never neglect it afterwards, as
the bees will come out fine and healthy
in the sprlng, and will cast swarms
earlier and much stronger.
every hive should be thoroughly
oyerhauied before cold weather sets In,
so as to ascertain their exact condition.
Ifyou are using movable comb hives, 1t
is an easy matter to attend to 1t. Every
hive should be opened up, every comb
examined carefully. Look for moths,
or the work Of them. If any are found,
cut them all out. See that they have
honey enough to last them during the
winter. Twenty-Five pounds is enough
in our latitude. If they have not,
change a frame or two with a colony
that have honey to spare. See that
your hives are not full of honey. If
they are, your bees could not live in
such hive, with cold wall of honey
on each side. You must give your ICES
empty comb to winter in, or else they
will certainly freeze. When you have
a number ofmsvable comb hives, equal
ize YOUR colonies by exchanging frames,
aud By that means you benefit all.