The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-09-14
UPWARD VENTILATION.
Instructive Notes on the Winter Manage
ment of Bees.

Instructive Notes on the Winter Manage
ment of Bees.
A great deal has been said about
bees wintering without upward ventila-
ton. and quite a number of bee-keep-
ers claim that they winter better with
out any upward ventilation. saying:
bees in their natural state-in the trees
of the forest-have no ventilation and
winter well, and seem to do much bet
ter than those having the best OF venti-
lation. We have found many wild
swarms in the last thirty years in many
kinds of trees, and in nearly every in
stance we found, either above or on the
sides of the swarm, rotten wood which
the perspiration from the bees could
pass into, acting the same as upward
ventilation. Some parties claim that
they winter bees safely without upward
ventilation. and that it is the proper
way. If they will invert their hives
and pour water into them it will run
out, therefore they are not air tight, for
where water will run through air will
escape.
It is true, if bees are kept in . perfect
ly dry place and at temperature OF
from forty-ive to fifty degrees, they re-
quire much less ventilation than they
would if kept in a damp, cold place. II
bees are kept where it is continually
freezing and there is no place in the hive
for the escape Of the perspiration that
passes from the bees. it will commence
to freeze on the outside of the hive. and
if it continues cold you will find your
bees dead and ice formed all around the
cluster of bees. Had there been a small
opening at the top or near the top of the
hive. for the air to escape. there would
nothing of the kind have happened.
1t only needs a very little upward
ventilation for bees; a good many bfe-
keepers give altogether too much
They need all the heat in the winter
and spring months that can be obtain
ed. Give only what will be necessary
to let the perspiration out 80 the hive
will not become damp on the inside. 1t
is good plan to leave the bottom
board off, or raise it up on blocks one
inch when wintering, especially in eel
lars. as the foul air always settles. and
if the hive is raised it gives charce
for it to escape; and il there is any
dampness in the winter depository it
will prevent the combs from molding.
The heat and circulation Of the cluster
of bees render the combs dry for some
distance around the cluster. but there IS
not enough of this circulation OF air
nor force to drive it to all parts OF the
brood chamber, and q part-often q
very large part-of the comb that Is
damp with moisture extends up at the
sides of the cluster to th~ top bees
This moisture gets into the honey and
causes it too sour; and as the foul air
is impure gas rises on top Of the brood
chamber, making .he bees uneasy snd
they begin to move about, use the sour
honey (which causes dysentery), and
the destruction of%he colonies ensues.
We are safe in saying that colony OF
bees never was known to have the
dysentery when the honey and combs
were kept perfectly dry.
Those that winter their bees without
proper ventilation are often heard TO
complain that their bees got restless
and uneasy from being too warm- My
experience has proven that ii is not the
warmth, but the fumes Of the sour
honey arising below and acoumulating
in the upper portions Of the brood
chamber that makes them uneasy, and
the removal Of the tight cover on top OF
the hive at such time will convince
any person that proper ventilation IL
necessary to the health Of the colony
Farm, Stock and Home.