Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-10

protecting beea WINTER.
Hives occupied by working colon
les Of bees should be protected during
winter. Keepers of bee supplies sell
a chaff hive that answers the pur-
pose of winter protection better. than
anything else. II these are too ex-
pensive, a good substitute may be
made OF dry goods boxes Of various
sizes but large enough to allow sew
eral inches of space for packing ma
terial after the hive has been set in.
Make a false bottom and set 1t
about four inches above the other
bottom after filling in the space with
chat. Cut an opening through the
box on a level with the false bottom,
making it tight at top and sides so
that the chaff will not work down and
block the entrance. The box should
be a foot higher than the hive so
that ample protection may be placed
over the top of the hive. The broad
chambers of the hives only should be
used, the lid fastened down closely
and set in the outer box, the chaff
being packed down firmly all around
it and on the top. 1t will be neces-
sary to make a cover that will be
perfectly water proof. No special
form is necessary but sloped roof
will be best Cover it with water
proof paper and then a heavy coat OF
paint. This protecting box is easily
made and operated, the main care
necessary being proper roof, space
to use plenty of chaff and the careful
making of the entrance through the
outer box so that the bees may go In
and out at will. This protection will
enable the bees to pass through the
winter in good shape if they have
sufficient food supply in the hive.
Avoiding Disease in Poultry.
The hen is more subject to disease
than any of our domestic animals,
nor is this strange when it is cons1d-
cred that she is forced to work con-
stantly during nearly all the year in
the production of eggs, when natur-
ally she would lay but few more
than her wild sister, who lays only
enough for one or two broods year.
It is usually the old fowls that are
most subject to disease, and even
then it is due to mismanagement,
such as lack of pure air, clean water,
wholesome food or exercise. Fowls
fed largely on corn and confined at
night in close filthy quarters cannot
~ renfan epeAect health 1t is
plain. therefore, why animals in con-
flnement are much more likely to be
sick than those on the range.
The best plan to prevent fowls
from ailing is to keep them when IN
confinement as nearly as possible to
their habits on the range. In feed
ing use a variety of grains, green
foods, bone and meat, with plenty OF
pure water and plenty of fresh air at
night. Avoid crowding them while in
the house and furnish them as much
yard room as possible, together with
a scratching shed in winter. In case
any of them are sick from any cause,
at once put them by themselves away
from the rest of the flock. Only by
constant study of their likes and
dislikes can poultry. be made to pay
large profits.
Preserving Eggs without Preserva-
tives.
If eggs are low in price it is good
plan to preserve them for the higher
prices that will come later. 1t is not
at all difficult to keep eggs, when not
fertile, for long time in cool wealth
er and without the use of preserva-
tives. If the eggs are put in crates
or placed in single layers on racks
and turned half over twice a week