The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1888-05-17
County Bee-Keepers Meeting.


The asScmblagc Of those interested in
bee keeping aud agricultural pursuits at
the annual meeting Of the Somerset Bee
Keepers Association at Cornville last
Thursday was rot large, bnt very inter
esting and profitable session was held.
The subject of wntering bees was the
chief topic because it was of the most
Importance in the whole range of apicul-
ture. The reports from bee keepers re-
garding their successes and losses were
many, and showed quite diversity of sue
cess. Lercy Judkins lost four, all he had.
Ed Paine had twelve. lost four. Sewe
Brown of Canaan put nine into winter
quarters, all lived. lie wintercd five in
cellar and four on summer stands. w,
Mclaughlin of Harmony never had better
success. His all came through alive and
strong. lie attributes his success to
making holes through the combe near the
upper bar in each frame and spreading
the frames about three fourths of an inch
apart, in the fall. Fred Rolfe of Canaan
lost colonies out of II. Mr.. Kicker
lost none. Mr.. Cover lost 6 out of /
Frank Rowe of Harmony lost none out of
3; while Mr.. Stafford lost out of L. j.
Reynolds of Clinton lost 8 out of - colo
nies but attributes his loss to the fact that
he stopped in those S Swarms and forgot
to liberate them, so they smothercd, 9TH
erwise they would have lived He says
that in his vicinity about fifty per cent
have died up to date
The conclusion of the members present
was that successful wintering depended
chiefly on the following essentials: Pen-
ty OF good honey, proper ventilation;
Spread the frames; have holes through
frames of comb; have all, or nearly all
young bees, and an even temperatures if
in cellar, of about 10 while those ON
summer stands should be protected by
chat houses.
How to prevent swarming, was another
topic discussed, and MI. Brown of Ca
nam gave very unique and rational
me bod, as follows: When the first
swarm issues, and is hived, carry the old
one out to one side and place the new one
on the old ones stand. Result The new
colony is composed of the old queen, and
old bees The old colony as mostly
young bees and Il young queen, or will
soon have one. Now during the next
day, large part of the old bees in the
old hive will 90 out and when thev come
back will 20 to their old stand and enter
the new hive. So we get the old hive so
nearly depapatated that they will stop the
swarming business and 90 to building up
for the winter. Other members suggested
that giving colonies plenty % room and
destroy all queen cells would also tend to
prevent frequent swarming.
a paper was read prepared by w, II
Norton of Skowhegan, who advocated
the plan of inserting empty comb at the
sides of the brood chamber instead of the
centre, as being the most profitable.
This paper brought out considerable dis
cuSSion, and the conclusion was that if
we wish to increase the bro d for young
bees to winter, it would be advisable to
put empty comb in the centre during the
months of August and September other
wise on the outside.
As usual, Mrs. King, mistress of the
hotel at North Cornvile spread a generous
supply of viands which always tickle the
palate and satisfy The appetite of the bee
keeping fraternity.
The next meeting will be held at IIar-
mony some time in September, at the call
of the secretary. The same officers hold
over another year