Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-31

DaiIu kenrlebrr JournaI.
WinterinS Bees.

Ibelieve all advanced bee-keepers are
agreed that the nearer we can keep our
bees in 3 state of perfect quietness or
semi-torpid state the better, at least, this
is my experience, says practical bee
keeper. But the way that this can be
brought about will require quite an
amount of explanation to the beginner in
agriculture. In the first place there should
be Is to 80 pounds of pure capped honey
the first of October, or perhaps still better
the same amount of pure granulated So
gar syrup, say about one pint of water in
which two pounds of sugar are dissolved,
the amount to each hive to be preportioned
according TO the number OF bees in each.
| mean the amount above stated by
weight, not guessed at, and besides the
weight of the bees, hive, frames, combs,
cushions. bee-bread and propolis. The
next thing to insure quietness, If wintered
in the cellar. which is. think. the best
and safest way in our cold and uneven
teperature) is to make benches not less
than two feet high, place them an the bot
tom of the cellar. entirely disconnected
with the house so that no iarring in the
rooms above shall be felt by the bees !;
but don't think common noise unless
accompanied by jar will disturb them.
at least, could never see that it did.
VENTILATION.
The next thing to attend to is ventila-
ton that is, there should be place open
ing into the kitchen chimney to draw off
the foul air generated in the cellar; there
should also be place to let in pure air,
from the outside, and it would be best to
have it by an underground pipe, say.
about six inches square, and about two
rods long, in order to have the ground
warm the air, to be let in at the bottom of
the cellar. both ventilators made so that
you can open or shut them when you de-
sire to let out foul air or let in pure air or
when the air in the cellar gets too warm,
to let in cold or when too cold to keep the
hot in. Each hive should be ventilated
by raising the hive on the end opposite to
the one where the bees enter. about one
half or three-eighths of an inch will do.
Be sure and not have it large enough for
the mice to get in.
The way | have done is to leave on the
enameled cloth turned up on one corner
about three inches, unless there should be
openings around the cloth to amount to
that, then put on thin cushion; put on
the cover. if small swarm; leave it off
or partially so if large one. Then let
them severely alone until it is time to
carry them out to put them on their sum-
mer stands, which should not be until it
is settled warm weather and the flowers
bloom; but if you should find
the bees to be getting uneasy, see if
your cellar is warmer than 45 degrees
or colder than 32 degrees of Fahrenhet's
thermometer. then, if you find 1.-TWO warm
let in cold air, if two cold, warm up by
fire in your cellar some way. | have
stove in cellar for that purpose. If the
bees are still don't disturb them by NOV
ing them or knocking on the hive, or TAX
ing off the cover or jarring to see if the
bees are alive; for if we have had them
well fixed in the fall, as above recon-
mended, there is nothing we can do to
hel p them.
OTHER REQUISITES.
Another requisite is to cut holes about
one inch in diameter through the comb
about two inches below the top bar, or
what think is better, take thin piece of
pine, one-tourth or threes-elghts of an
inch thick and one and one-half inches
wide. and long enough to reach across
JIle ITdtutS anu tlCn plcCc dCIOSS
that to keep the cushion up, from the top
of the brood frames. about five-eights of
an inch square.
This is to be laid under the enameled
cloth on cushions. to allow winter
passage so the bees can pass either
way across the frames to get the
honey or stores. Another considera-
ton for safe wintering should be the vi
tality of the bees or the power of endur-
ing the severity of our sudden changes of
heat and cold while in their winter quar-
ters. l am aware this subject opens a
large field for discussion, not only on the
wintering subject, but on the working
qualities. dociity and prolificness of the
queen and bees. | suppose all observing
bee keepers have noticed that there is q
great difference in the wintering qualities
of bees, even when there was no appar-
ent difference in the fall, and again in the
spring when. apparently, they are alike
some will spring dwindle and others are
all right. Now think there is reason
for this, and have so much faith in the
intelligence and perseverance of bee
keepers in this business that we shall know
all about it yet. and shall venture the
assertion that the vitality of the bees has
do NTH this u;ufar;pn and