Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-03
Wintering Bees.

We have been corresponding with j W
llosmer, with view to understanding fully
his plan of wintering small instead of large
colonies. We shall try his method, for his
success shows that he is practically as well
as theoretically correct in his views He
finds that when colonies are wntered in a
warm place, it is not necessary to have
large number of bees in it a quart, he says,
is amply sufficient for the safety of any queen
If such colonies have food, both honey and
pollen land We suppose, though he docs not
say it, water or moisture, they rear brood
abundantly in the latter part of the season,
and come out Of winter quarters populous
and in much better order than if they had
been stronger in number in the fall. The
theory is, that the old bees that have consum.
ed honey all the winter die soon after they
first fly in the spring, and have had their
winters board for nothing, while younger
bees have lease of life before them, aud
form more vigorous force for cherishing
brood, which is about all that has to be done
the first few weeks Of spring
We hope others will experiment in this
matter. The gain is great, If the plan is safe,
Much less honey will be consumed and twice
as many working colonies be secured, in the
spring in good order. Mr. Hosmer rears
surplus queens in small boxes, and then about
the season the year that we are accustomed
TO unite our weak colonies to make all strong
for winter, he divides his strong ones, so that
with each queen he has only moderate sup.
ply of bees, and honey in proportion. This
is contrary to our old ideas Of safety for them,
but the time has gone by when we can afford
to reject theory because it is new, or hold to
any way Of practice simply because it is the
old way. prove all things - In this case
we have the testimony of one who has been
more successful than any other this year in
obtaining surplus honey He goes 50 far as
10 say he would "reduce the numbers Of all
colonies, even if obliged to kill the bees rath-
er than winter large stocks" Let those who
try this, remember that colonies, after being
reduced must be put out of the way of frost,
in some place, either buried, put in cellars
that will not freeze or 10 warm houses. Also
that they must have all the honey they need,
or can use, for they will not rear brood with.
out it 1t would seem TO US that diluted
honey SHOULD be within reach of the cluster
always. How bees can rear much brood, or
how young bees can thrive, without being able
to fly to discharge iecal matter, we do not un-
derstand, but we are only scholars in this
thing, and confess freely that had this theory
come from any other quarter than ore where
success had been 50 perfect it would not have
attracted our attention. As tits, we mean to
know all about it, and hope many others will
experiment, in small way, and report sue
cess or failure.
We are told by man who has buried bees
many times, that he always snds his weak
colonies come out in much the best order, and
do the best the next season, and friend who
united his bees out Of doors, in double walled
hives, packed with chat, reports that he has
wintered two quarts Of bees in this way, and
had them doubly strong in spring. These
facts confirm Mr.. Hosmers theory.-E. s. T.
10 Bee Keepers Journal.