The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-11-24
WiNTERiNG BEES.
The Necessity Of supplying the Hives
with Plenty IF Food

The Necessity Of supplying the HIves
with Plenty Of Food.
There is hardly any doubt in my
mind but that the most successful win
tering is attained by those bees win
tered on the summer stands in good
chaff hive. There are many reasons
for my opinion. but will only give q
lew, as the more space the beginner
has to go over in looking for advice, the
more difficult that advice seems to be
for him to follow. My principal rea-
sons are: There is no labor of moving
bees in and out of the cellar; hives
being always on the summer stands
they can be reached at any time, and
u one or more is short of stores a
Comb can be laid on top of the frames
Without disturbing the bees in the
least Bees wintercd on the summer
Stands are very seldom, if ever.
troubled with spring dwindling, and
never with diarrhea, simply because if
they require a fly there are many
warm days on which they can take the
Necessary flight. In the fall the be-
ginner should ascertain the exact
condition of every stock. both in refer
ence to their stores and number OF bees
In each hive. Should you find any
lacking in either, or both these points,
supply them with good. or, if weak.
unite two or more stocks together.
Each and every stock should have
twenty-five pounds Of honey to insure
them food enough until 1.-THE flowers
that bloom in the spring" commence
to secrete honey. You can generally
| lind stocks with enough surplus to
Imake up the deficiency in other
hives, and thus by changing
around you equalize your stocks and
put them all in good condition for the
coming winter. Should the lower part
of your combs be empty. place them
in the center, as bees need empty cells
to cluster on. If they are full put one
empty comb in the center OF the brood
nest espec ally for the cluster. and be
sure and make the brood nest as small
as possible. as the less the space they
have 10 keep warm. tho better they
winter. Now place stick about
one inch square across the top OF frame
and then lay on your chat cushions.
This stick allows a free passage from
one comb to the other and does not OK
pose the bees as it does when they
have TO travel around the end or down
to the bottom to reach the next frame.
Set board over tho entrance to keep
out the sun, for should the sun shine in
too bright they might fly out when the
air is really SO cold that it would chill
them. DO not disturb your bees through,
the winter, unless at the close Of long,
severe cold spell, when. il it is warm.
you may remove the board and OPEN
the entrance full and let them ny.
Thus they will void their fpces and res
turn without any loss to the stock. In
uniting bees smoke them thoroughly
and sprinkle them with swcetened
water, and shake all the bees from the
combs in the bottom of the hive. Get
your honey ready for market and dis.
pose of it as near home as possible,
Make an exhibit and get she people III
terested. and In this way the growth Of
your home market will surprise you.
!, Make up your mind to spend large
h part of your time with bee literature,
and study all parts of your chosen vo
cation thoroughly. Bee Journal