Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-05
miscellaneous.


W1DteP1nS Bees.
The following hints on the wintering of
bees should be ut once attended to By
those having work 70 do in the apiary:
l. As 10 food. This is obviously of the
first necessity, 10 see that every hive has
enough and 10 spare. We had some very
warm DAYS the past autumn, and even
continuance Of them. Breeding. therefore,
has been in unusually active operation,
and copsea uently much stored honey has
already been consumed. Where there IS
the slightest suspicion Of a possible lack
OF food it may be supplied forthwith.
Choose the warmest days which may be
given Us. and top feed in small quantities.
when the sun il out and the air Is calm.
Remove the feeders and cover up the
holes some time before sunset. In ex-
trerDe cases it is good plan to close the
entrances and to bring the hives into the
house at night. when they may be Ted TOR
some hours by the fireside in the warm
kitchen also. barley sugar may be gwen
them both at top and bottom where it is
not convenient TO feed in any other way.
If syrup is the food supplied it should now
be somewhat thick and fortified with
little Gin or other spirit The sooner this
Is zone Tic Dcttti pht pS"N'N ~ '~N'-."r
when the temperature is low or the wind
high, If the bees have access to the open
air.
2. Protection is the next important mat
ter to be attended to. Already we have
had the before.cast shadows of coming
events in the SHOWS and severe frosts
which have visited us this year. There
fore let all bee-keepers look well 10 their
A Damn frrn w nr
rain can Turk or linger about them.
3 Hive entrances should be narrowed
and guarded carefully against intrusion OF
mice or other vermin. II possible, during
the coolest weather. when snow lies deep
or high winds prevail. and even in the
treacberous weather Of advancing spring,
il will often be advisable to close the en-
frances altogether. Perforated zinc blocks
will be found useful for this purpose. such
as can easily be removed and replaced.
Remove them on all soft sunny days, re-
placinp them when the evening. comes.
and by their means keeping the bees con-
fined in all uncer: ain or rough and stormy
weather BY this means many valuable
life will be saved Bees can be kept thus
at home for several days together without
much, if any. serious inconvenience TO
themselves. This treatment can be pro-
longed quite to the middle of April in the
case OF all but the most forward stock.
But when once the population begins to
extend itself so as to cover three parts OF
the combs it will no longer be pr dent to
confine the bees: nor should this ever be
done without seeing to the due ventilation
of the stock by the application of bits of
perforated zinc at the entrance and over
the hole or holes at the top Of the hive.
4. Pedestals should be examined. and
new and strong supports given whenever
there is the least suspicion of decay, other
wise some stormy day the hives will be
found overturned aud ruined by some
sudden gust OF wind.
g. Now is the time. also, for making all
preparations for the future season. New |
hives should be made. and old and worn
out hives destroyed. especially if there is
any suspicion Of lurking disease or if the
WAX moth has got hold of any.
6. If any hives require to be removed
in winter. perhaps the best time is just
after long frost. But even then it will
not be safe to remove them to any posi-
ton near their old stand Nor should
they be liberated after their removal till
some morning warm and still. If little
syrup Ca dessert spoonful Mt time) is
poured into the hive at the time OF their
liberation it will cause an excitement
about the hive entrance. which will at
tract home again any bees which might
perhaps otherwise be lost. But we do not
advise removing hives Mt any time of the
year except TO considerable distance, I'M
less necessity requires it. 1t is better to
wait till swarming time. when special ia
cilities are afforded