Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-02-20
FARM AND FlRESIDE.
;s.ssas a @
W.ntering Bees.
II. B. MINER.

: The question in regard to extractiEg
the honey from the central combs of
hives in the fall. to allow the bees
warmer clustering room. is being dis
cussed in the papers so newhat. Mr..
L. {. Root. in opposing an advocate of
the negative side Of the question in the
County Gentleman, SAYS when the
cluster is formed in cold weather. bee
occupies each cell within the given
space, making the entire body of bees
even smaller than if the combs did not
pass through the cluster" From which
he argues that there should be no honey
II the combs where the bees cluster.
all adds; If they are obliged to clus-
t'r between combs filed with hcuey. in
very cold weather, they will be sure to
b. olnd frozen. | have noticed bees
so frozen in several hives this present
M NTH. even before severe cold wealth
err"
There must be something wrong, l
think, besides having sealed com to
cluster on. when bees freezem Novem-
Der. kept bees extensively before Mr..
Root was born probably. aud nave con-
tInued tn keep them ill the present
tine; and this is the first case that
have ever beard OF their dying in No
vember from any cause excepting the
want Of honey. The following points,
] claim, M experience has established:
/. That bees, When left tn store hon-
ey as thew please, generally leave the
centers of combs where they cluster,
untitled with honey but if sometimes
they do store too much there from the
fall supply, by the time they shonld go
into winter quarters, they have consum-
ed enough of that thus stored to enable
th.m to winter safely, if they are other
wise in good condition.
2. That strong families Of bees, if
the queen is prolific, aud has continued
to breed freely up to November, as all
sholud do. will winter safely, without
the removal Of any honey from the
combs where the bees cluster.
3. That the bees must have a sup-
ply ofhouey on the same combs on
which they cluster, or they will perish,
if the weather be so cold that they can
not leave the cluster as often as once
week, or perhaps ten days.
4. That the removal of the honey in
the central combs by an extractor in
the fall, after the honey-harvest is
passed, endangers the safety Of the bees
unless they be wintered in a place so
warm, that they can pass from one
comb to another often enough to supply
themselves with food.
But it is to be expected that apiarlsts
will differ in their opinions on MANY
Questions pertaining to bees, as men do
who are engaged in other pursuits aud
think am safe in saying. that there
is 40 man living who understands The
nature and management Of bees per-
fectly. That's so perfectly that he can
learn nothing mole.
The reason why there are so many
different views and theories about it.
that bee-keepers take it tor granted. in
many cases, that a thing IS 50 because
some noted ap.arist has said it is so;
and thereaitera hundred pens may be
used to uphold a iIllacy. Now, where
is the record of any experim 'nts made
to test the claim that the extractor
should be- used TO remove hon Y from
combs To secure the bees wlntering
safely: Who has tried the two systems
Thoroughly, SIDE by SIDE, for d series OF
Years. and given the /, suit to the world:
Nobody, a far As | am learn. but Mr..
Bclslnger, whose statements Mr., Root
oppos, ~ grossly erroneous; aul 10
Cir. b. says t4At 81, bees taat nad
money rxt.A,I.d dad, wmle those thai
had none extracted S.utereI sA!el,
Nj. K.p;~s's tatt u n-L, ~ '.,t.r'p
''curr, ,ppnd, T.lI tle laa.oA oi ev,r,
practical beck keeper, uuless il be Nj
BeislnS,r.' Now, suppose tie question
were pul TO 'cve,s mA;,.cui hee Nrcpsr
in the United ) aies. Mr.. Root woul
undoubtedly, be surprised To ind tlat
n.ne IN ten never heard OF such qur>
tion before, rs but small portion OF
the bee-keepcrs OF this country AIT
leaders Of our journals; aud ;Dn3'-
auenuy, the most OF them are uot IN
formed OF what professional apilr.sts
do or do not believe.