Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-04-23
Temperature in Bee.hecping.
IGOR. Rural World,

Bees require warmth in winter; ant
this is doctrine which Bookkeeping
has demonstrated. A colony exposed
the greater part of the winter to thu
cold winds with little interruption, i.
sure to suffer and die, unless the hiy'
is one unusually well calculated fo
protection. Thus the old straw hive
a warm one, will save its bees Otter
when others are destroyed. A milo
winter it is known is favorable t.
bees. 1t is for this reason-to avoio
the cold-that bees are put in cellars
and otherwise protected. 1t is no,
sufficient to put in building, ant
leave without artificial heat, as thu
severe cold and changes of tempera
ture are here readily felt. Better
live outdoors, covered, or at least il
good part, with snow. Such colo
MES we know have from year to yea
for many yea wintered well, and al
the better where further protected b,
trees, buildings, or hill-anythine
that forms break to the wind. II
is warmth that the bees require
warm sunshiny weather to work in
which makes them lively, and mild
temperature in winter, neither quite
warm nor too cold, say 40 to A
degrees, rather upward than under
This shows that the two extremes
must be avoided. In summer when
the heat is very great, Il colony in
the sun exposed directly to its rays
will not do SO we'll rs one shaded.
This we have Tor many years seen
clearly demonstrated. In summer
the bees in the woods have shade,
not the dcnsest shade at the foot OF
the trees, but raised to more light
and air, yet neither in the direct rays
OF the sun or direct force of the wind.
Temperature is the all important
point next to food with bees. OF
this there can be no question. We
must avoid the extreme and long con-
tinued cold of winter-that is, eX-
posture to the direct rays Of the sun
for long time.
There Ire many ways to secure the
proper temperature. Among these is
the protection of trees, hills, woods,
the snow, and housing. In summer
we have known the best OF success
in grove partially shading the bees,
in a valley. TIE ground
was well drained, and there was
chance for sufficient air to prevent
excess of humidity. The hills broke
the severity of the winds, and the
trees of the grove aided in
breaking the shock. Yet there was
40 lack of heat unless the season oc-
,asioned it, as the situation, de-
preston valley, where the rays of
he sun were gathered and reflected,
Increasing the general temperature
md avoiding its sharp excess by the
partial shade of the grove. In win
CT, with good, warm. yet sufficiently
;cntilated hives, and well protected
~ snow, strong colonies may be left
IN the stands. They are not exposed
o the winds or sudden changes of
he temperature, but have i mild,
harbor. There are those
Who prefer \ separate room or cellar
or their bees in winter, attending to
he temperature. This secures the
natter beyond peradventure. And
here are those, in love with their
rade, who are not 10th to give this
abor to their bees. With their ~
diligence, they are apt always to sue
eed. In the season OF rest (winter)
ctivity Of the bees on the one hand
MI torpidity on the other in excess
hould be avoided, SO that needless
oney be not consumed, and the hive
utter no loss or death. Ii the cellar
r room bave frost for a long time, it
, too cold; thirty-tive OF fifty degrees
, good temperature for strong
warm. In all cases avoid outdoor
7,ntering where the stands are ex-
osed to the full force of the cold
'inds, which also drive away the
now, thus leaving the hives naked
nd exposed to the full inclelnency.
t must indeed be u warm hive that
ill stand this. And yet a straw
i've will do this if the winter is not
% excessive, 80 that it will be seen
nat the build of the hive is OF consc-
uence. The true bee-kceper will
vail himself Of all the circumstances.
lie cannot absolutely fail then; and
is the only way to succeed well in
ee-keeping.