The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1907-02-21
SOME WINTER BEE HINTS.
snow Is a Good Thing on the Hives
That Are Out Doors.

1 ~ h1Aho hoN0 pun VII htl
warm. white winter clothing, it is well
for us to consider what is best to be
done for the colonies that are winter.
ing under this white blanket in the
apiary.
Is it necessary to remove the snow
from the hives, or should it be left
there for protection to the bees,
Snow is a protection to our fields
and meadows; it seems to be a non
conductor of heat and cold alike, and
the ground under it 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-
air the warmth of the bees. and
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, If a sufficient
shelter of snow has protected them.
The conditions in those states, how.
ever, are somewhat different from
what they are in our latitude. The
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 it 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 a sudden
change of wind. sometimes completely
closes up the entrances and air pas
sages.
This condition, If protracted beyound
a few days, would lead to s~uffocation
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 a little snow.
enough to close the air holes with
ice, is much more dangerous than a
drift in which the hives are entirely
buried.
Hives should never be faced toward
! the north. In northern ATTITUDES, a
northern exposure in winter Is almost
sure to result In the loss of the colony
from the rigorous north wind blowing
in at the entrance, and the confine-
ment Of the bees, caused by the en-.
frances being shaded on mild, sunny
days when the ices in hives facing
southwark fly freely.
So the snow is not to be trusted too
far, and the south side of the hives
is in danger of being quickly uncov
cred of its shelter when it is of this
fimsy material.
Acting upon this experience we have
been in the habit of banking up the
snow, when there is plenty OF it, on
the north and west sides only, and
carefully cleaning the alighting board
on the first warm day after a snow
fall.
If the weather gets mild enough for
a bee flight, the bees then find them
selves dry footed in front of their
hives.
If the bees are confined when the
weather is warm enough for them to
fly, they will fret and worry; and il
their abdomen is loaded with fecal
matter, they may be compelled to dis
charge 1t in the hives to their OWE
discomfort,
We have invariably noticed that the
colonies which take the freest flight
on warm days and consequently seem
to lose the greatest number of bees
on the snow, prove to be the best
colonies in the spring.
1t is much better to let them fly
and run the risk of their not return
ing.
All things considered, a heavy snow
is to be taken as beneficial rather than
as injurious to the interest of the bee
keeper; for If it is a sign of p~rotracted
cold, it is also an indication of pros
perity, since it shelters the land and
promises a healthy growth of grass
clover and other plants, and adds
moisture to the ground, which slowly
penetrates to the roots.
ACETYLENE TESTER FOR EGGS,