The Globe-republican., 1896-11-12

Proposing fer Wlneses
In most localities the month u ~
TENDER will end the secretion Of nectar
In the flowers for this season at least
And, as successful wintering depends
largely on properly preparing the bees.
I shall recommend that preparation AZ
once, writes Geo. E. Hilton In Michl-
gan Farmer.
Perhaps some Of them need no at
tention at all. some will be found with
insufficient stores. others will have
more than they really need, but In or
der to learn their condition We must
go through our apiaries and examine
each colony and make a note OF their
then If there is sufncient
honey in the yard to winter all or
to give each colony not less than Is
or 30 pounds. we must equalize by TAX
ing from the heavier and exchanging
combs with the lighter. thus equali1-
ing them: but should there not Do
honey enough in the yard then We
must feed. The above estimate I think
will hold good for either outdoor or eel
lar wintering: 1t 10 claimed that bees
consume less stores wintered in cellar
than those wintered on summer stands.
This may In a measure be true while
they are in the cellar, but It Is just a.
true that they consume more stores
during the spring months and change
able weather than those protected in
the double-walled hives. making one
just about Offset the other. In case
md myself compelled to feed, and
usually prepare for this emergency. I
prefer to feed by removing combs that
have little or no honey in them and
replace with combs well filed and
capped over in the earlier part of the
season. In the absence of these my
next choice is extracted honey. In
tne absence Of both we must resort to
sugar syrup, and while bees winter well
on syrup made from pure granulated
or confectioner's sugar, I prefer the
money. but In feeding either we must
resort to some kind of a feeder. espe-
cially II the bottoms of our hives arc
not perfectly tight. For winter feeding
or rather feeding for winter I know
OF no feeder like as we'll as the Mil
Ter Feeder" this is about the size Of
your comb honey super and is set upon
the hive in the same manner. The
bees 60 directly from the center Of the
brood nest into It and it is so arranged
that the bees cannot get above it or
daub themselves with the feed. After
determining the amount the colony
needs one of these can be set on and
the required amount poured In at one
feeding. as 1t will hold thirty pounds
OF honey or syrup. As my hives all
have tight bottoms. I frequently raise
the front Of the hive two or three
inches and just before dark pour in
at the back end Of the brood nest three
or four pounds at a time. As this
Will all be stored in the combs and
everything cleaned up before morning,
there is no danger of robbing. Should
the honey thus fed be very thick ]
should thin it with a little hot wa
VIZ 40 SAC UCCS Cdu uduulo IL muCU
better and faster II it is thin and q
little warm. In preparing sugar syrup
make 1t just as it is made for table
use. being very careful not to burn It
or it will surely kill the bees. Don't
put on this feeding until too late, as It
is very essential that the bees should
have time to thoroughly ripen and cap
1t over. After your feeding is done
remove everything of non-porous
character and place next to the bees
something that will allow the moisture
to pass of. A piece of wooden blan-
ket. q piece Of old but clean carpet or
even a piece of burlap will answer
nicely. Then put on cushion or Dill
low filled with clean wheat chaff or
cut straw and leave them thoroughly
alone until next spring and you need
have no more fears Of their winterinR
we'll than Of flock of sheep that are
given proper attention. If you winter
in the cellar treat them in the same
manner and leave the hive cover off.
Put them in the cellar between Nov.
LIST and 18th and all will be we'll.