The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-01-04
SOME WINTER BEE HINTS.
Snow Is a Good Thing on the Hives
That Are Out Doors.


done for the colonies that are winter
ing under this white blanket in the
apiary.
Is II necessary to remove the snow
from the hives, or should 1t be left
there for protection to the beesr
Snow is a protection to our fields
and meadows; II seems to be a nom
conductor OF heat and cold alike. and
the ground under 1t retains its natural
warmth.
When the snow melts, the wheat
and grasses show by their green
blades that this mantle has been bene-
fetal.
The hives, likewise, IL partly or
entirely buried in the snow, will re-
many of our farmers purposely pile up
the snow over their hives.
In the north the bees live well
through the winter, and come out
strong and healthy. II a sufficient
shelter of snow has protected them.
The conditions in those states. how
ever, are somewhat different from
|
sun there has but little strength during
the winter months. and when the hives
are entirely buried, the natural heat
of the bees has only a slight effect
upon the snow, causing II slowly to
melt away from the wood; thus the
openings of the hives are liberated
and ventilation secured.
In our latitude OF northern New
Jersey, writes a correspondent in
Farm Journal, there are but few days
when the sun does not, more or less,
cause a thaw; the snow on the south
side OF the hive changes TO ice, and
an additional freeze-up, or sudden
change of wind, sometimes completely
closes up the entrances and air pas
sages.
This condition, IL protracted beyound
a few days, would lead to suffocation
of the bees so confined. unless some
aperture or crevice at the upper part
can give a chance for the ingress OF
: pure air.
So there is a danger against which
| we must guard; and little snow
enough to close the air holes witt
} ice. is much more dangerous than
drift in which the hives are entirel!
D buried.
: Hives should never be faced toward
t the north. In northern ATTITUDES,
d northern exposure in winter is almos
= sure to result in the loss Of the colon,
l. from the rigorous north wind blowing
t in at the entrance, and the conhne
5 ment of the bees, caused by the er
frances being shaded on mild, sum
DAYS when the bees in hives facin
southwark fly freely.
So the snow is not to be trusted to
y far. and the south side OF the hive
is in danger of being quickly unco'
cred of its shelter when 1t is OF thi
i fiimsy material.
u Acting upon this experience we hay
IL been in the habit of banking up IN
II snow. when there is plenty OF 1t, @
Ell the north and west sides only, an
Is carefully cleaning the alighting boar
d on the first warm day after a snoN
=, fall .
* If the weather gets mild enough II
W a bee fight, the bees then find theI
IN selves dry footed in front OF the
y hives.
ry If the bees are confined when u
ID weather is warm enough for them
Us fv they will fret and worry; and
W. their abdomen is loaded with fec
'e' matter. they may be compelled to d
OF charge it in the hives to their oV
:, discomfort.
III We have invariably noticed that {
colonies which take the freest fig
70 on warm days and consequently see
gu to lose the greatest number OF be
~ on the snow, prove to be the DC
-ei colonies in the spring.
ia' II is much better to let them
Is and run the risk of their not retul
~, ing.
ca All things considered, heavy sn'
70 is to be taken as beneficial rather tn
10 as Injurious to the interest OF the b
ieo keeper: for If it is a sign of protrac'
Yep cold. Il is also an indication OF pr
perity, since it shelters the land
we PROMISES a healthy growth OF gra
la clover and other plants. and &C
~ moisture to the ground, which slo'
s'0 penetrates to the roots.