The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-10-21
Wintering Bees.

MIR. Betsinger advocates winteriug
bees in combs full of sealed honey. This
extreme many bee-keepers fail to in
dorse, but all agree that the opposite
extreme of too much empty comb should
also be avoided. In determining the
amount of winter food it is well to know
the average weight of the hives and
contents Independent of the honey; on
weighing the stocks those too heavy
should exchange combs with such as
are lacking. If from any cause there is
a deficiency it must be supplied by
feeding. Bees scarce of honey in the
fall, or bees forced to depend On fruit
alone for honey, are not liable to winter
SO we'll as those, for instance, that
have gathered honey from buckwhear
or similar crops in the autumn.
Mr.. j. King advises in his Bee Jour-
nal that inasmuch as honey stored in
June and July is thicker and contains
less acid than that stored later in the
season, it be removed from the hives
and put away in dark, dry place for
winter purposes and its place in the
hive be filled with frames full of comb
foundation set in the centre of the
hive; and, if dearth of honey in the
flowers occurs, feed a little strip from
the best brown sugar each evening
from the entrance of the hive. This,
says Mr.. King, will promote rapid
breeding, and by the time the fall flow
ers are ready there will be a host of
vigorous young workers to store It
away. AS bees are not inclined to
store honey in boxes in the fall, Mr..
King uses the extractor and replaces
the empty combs in the center of the
breeding department of the hive, a
process which. he believes, invariably
excites the bees to intense activity.
When the fall harvest is going on the
queen will appropriate space in these
center frames of the empty comb in
order to insure sufficient number of
the young bees going into winter
quarters. Finally Mr.. King extracts
all the combs containing honey and no
brood to speak of and puts them away
FOR use in early spring; in their place
he sets the frames full of summer
scored honey. With six or seven frames
IN the center of each hive he brings the
ciose.itting division boards close up
and places chaff cushion on top of the
frames, about four inches thick. Air
holes are left open at each end of the
cap and the entrance is contracted into
about one inch space. Quimby gives the
necessary supply of honey at five combs
averaging five pounds each, or six
weighing four pounds each, for winter
ing indoors, with an excess of five
pounds for hives wintered outside.
Many bee-keepers still advocate out
of-door wintering or summer stands.
When this practice is followed the
hives must be protected from cutting
winds, If the bees are to receive no
attention Quimby advises the common
box-hive with holes in the top, loosely
filled with rags or some porous SUBJ
stance. Adjust the case or cap loosely,
SO as to afford better opportunity for
the moisture to escape. 1t is also rec
commended to occasionally remove the
roof, and often the cap or cover of the
hive, that the inside may receive the
direct rays of the sun to dry off the
moisture. Packing straw about hives
in such manner that the sun cannot
at any time shine upon any part of it is
to be avoided. Care at all times must
be observed not to jar or in any way
arouse the bees to activity; nor should
tho hive be disturbed at any time
when the temperature will induce bees
to fly. At such times they can be pre-
vented from flying by shading the hives
from the sun.
All things considered, in cold climates,
at least, indoor wintering is preferable.
The prime essentials to successful win
tering are dry pure air and even tenn
perature, neither Of which can be per-
sectly gained out of doors as in a suita-
lie indoor location. Satisfactory results
Asve been obtained in dry cellars be-
Meath room where q fire is regularly
kept. The hives should not. however,
be set near q wall nor on shelves where
they will be subjected to any jarring
motion. Wherever placed . uniform
temperature of about forty-five degrees
should be kept by means of artificial
heat if necessary and ventilation. 1t
is best that bees be left on their sum-
ner stands as late as possible before
being put away for the winter. r
World.
The burning of widows has no.