The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-11-17

The Main Paints When and How 30 Do
II Considered.
Two or thres years ago the question OF
when bees ought to be carried into the
cellar was considerably discussed. Tho
drift of the matter at that time was that
we were leaving our bees out Of doors
too long. The bees had ceased to store
honey or to breed, they seldom few and
consumed but little food, either honey OF
pollen; in fact We're ready for their win
ter's nap. No cleansing flights were
needed. The intestines were not loaded,
because almost no food was being han
died or consumed, and nothing was void.
ed In these late flights, If the bees did
fly. 1t was argued that It was better to
carry the bees In before they had even
felt the touch of winters stefh hand
and before the hives were dampened by
frost or snow or Ice. Instances were
mentioned where bees were carried into
the cellar unusually early, yet they WIN
tered we'll. Some beekeepers said that
as time went by each year found them
putting their bees in the cellar at an
earlier date. "All this appears reason
able, and, for aught know, Is good doc.
trine," says the editor of The Beekeepers
Review. 81 have put bees in Che cellar
as early as Nov. 10 and as late as Dec.
10, and could see little difference. It IL
my belief that after bees have ceased ac-
tive labors for sufficient time to allow
their systems to get rid of the waste
matter resulting from such labors, and
they have had one Or two fights after
cool fall weather has set in, that any
slight accommodations may be voided.
That nothing is gained by leaving them
upon the sumner stands. That any
thing is gained by putting them IN M
usually early doubt, In short, I think
it unimportaut when the bees are brought
in, provided they have really settled down
for winters Inactivity and they are not
left out until freezing weather sets In"
On the subject, How shall the bees
be carried in7 the authority quoted says:
eff there are only few colonies and
they are near the cellar they may Be
picked up and carried In by main
strength II there are two persons to
do the work il supplies matters, as tho
hives 1uay he carried between them upon
. hand barrow. Mr.. FL. n. Boardman
Ass carr treAfad wi,i0A he can wdR
md from the front Of which proie4
sen,s thas raay b taruss seraddh Of 4
hive and ftFs hive thus raised from the
bottom board and wEaeled into the cellar
without so much as touching the hive
| with the hands. Mr.. F. H. Mcfarland,
of Vermont, has sort of neckyoke, 10
| each end of which hive may be attach
ed by wire loops that pass under the
hive.
"If the bottom boards are loose land
| they ought to be) and there comes a day
| when its growing colder all the time
| just raise each hive an inch or two,
putting block under each corner. This
will allow the cold to get at the bees,
causing them to cluster quickly and
compactly, when they may be carried
| into the cellar without leaving a little
cluster upon the bottom board or very
many bees leaving the hive. I would
not bring In the bottom boards with the
bees and would stack the hives If I
had room enough. Manage In some way
to have an empty space below the combs.
Put the weakest colonies on top"