The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1883-02-22
CARE OF BEES IN WINTER.

Several years ago had three or four colonies
of bees get very uneasy in the cellar during the
latter part of the winter. / tried to quiet them
by giving them more ventilation, but it was of
nn use, they continued to grow more and more
uneasy toward spring. The weather was too
unsettled and cold to put them out, and | had
alout given them M for lost, when concluded
9" try an experiment. | made holes through
my chat mats, and inserted bottles of water
with cotton cloth tied over the nose. lie ting the
bottle come close down TO the cluster of bees.
The effect was almost magical; they became
perfectly quiet. and remained 50 until taken ont
al the cellar. These colonies had a large
amnunt of brood, and were matching bees quite
rapidly when taken out in the spring. The next
winter, about February LIST, / commenced CIV
ing water Ia half my bees Soon after, as an ex-
pertinent, took the water bottle away from the
strongest colony. They soon manifested their
disapproval by making mproar and boiling
out of the hive. | put the bottle back aud they
puieted down and remained so. When taken
ont in the spring, fonud the colonies ] had
given water had plenty of Matching bees, and
FROM two to four frames Of brood while the 9th
rr had little sealed brood, and some of them
none at all. Last winter gave water to all nv
bees, which enabled me to keep them in the cell
Jar perfectly quiet until all danger of spring
dwindling WAS past. | never saw a lot of bees
In as good condition the first of May-strong in
numbers, aud with plenty of Matching brood.
Mr.. 4. j. Simpson. Of Illinois. purpOsed build
ing a honey house with cellar underneath il.
After the cellar was finished he was taken sick
aud the house was not huilt. Early in the win
winter lie thought he would try watering part
at his bees in that cellar. He first covered it
with poles, and during a snow storm, began
drawing straw 10 cover the poles He had To
draw the straw quite a distance and the result
was a layer Of straw aud then LAYER of snow.
until the cellar was covered 10 depth of about
four feet. Eighty colonies of bees were placed
in the cellar, and the heat arising from them
caused the snow that was IN the straw. and all
that fell upon il during the winter, to melt aud
run down upon the hives, keeping them drip
ping with water, all the time Whenever Mr.
Simpson visited the cellar, at the entrance of
each hive that he examined. the bees were ont
in regular circles. drinking the water that drip
I,rd down upon the alghting board. The bees
came through in splendid condition. Not u
comb was mouldy, aud there were plenty of old
aud young hees-no dysentery aud no spring
dwindlng. That part of his apiary which was
put IN what was considered in good shape, and
kept dry, according TO the books, suffered so
badly with dyscntery and spring dwindling,
that he obtained but little profit from them dur
ing the next season.
IL space would permit. instances like the
above could Ice given by the dozen. Nv own
experience in wintering bees in the cellar has
been very limited; but, if I should ever have
bees commence worrying while in the cellar, !
-hpnld certainly give them water. | should
never give them water for the express purpose
"f inducing them 10 commence breeding, as I'M
less one Is engaged in rearing bees nT queens for
sale. or Is working for increase of stocks do
not consider extra strong colonies, early in the
~pung, an advantage. The time to have strong
colonies is when there Is honey 10 gather. moi
Hhru the bees are simply coaSumcrS | should
prefer to have bees remain perfectly quiet not
breeding to any great extent until the weather
= warm and settledl.-CoHRirg GesiicaaR.