Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-29
WINTER CARE OF BEES
Protect Hives from Cold. Feed WAeH
Necessary. and Reduce Losses.


Necessary. and Reduce Losses.
Beekeepers lose from one-tenth t. one
half of their colonies every winter by fall
ing to feed and protec. them properly.
That loss is too large, bee specialists of
the United States department Of agricul-
ture believe, and In a statement issued
to-day they declare these losses of i'm
portant sources of sugar can be reduced
to less than one per cent.
Wintering bees is problem of conserv-
ing the energy of the individuals in each
colony, the bee specialists say. Three
conditions in the hive cause a waste of
energy. First, when the temperature of
the air surrounding the bees falls below
81 degrees 1t Is necessary for the bees
to expend energy to keep warm. Second.
when the temperature Of the air is above
60 degrees the bees use energy by flying
from the hive, removing the dead that
may have accumulated, and In any other
activities which the needs of the colony
require. Third, an abnormal activity re-
| sulting in energy loss is caused by long
periods of adverse weather which do not
| permit the bees to fly from the hive to
void their excrement. This last condi-
ton may result in the death OF many
| thousands Of colonies. the specialists say.
PROTECTING THE HIVE.
Protection of the hive and providing
foods of good quality for winter stores
will conserve the energy OF the bees
! and enable the colony to pass the winter
| safely outdoors. II the hive Is placed
| within a box about six inches greater IN
| each dimension than the hive itself. ana
the space between filled with dry saw
| dust, leaves or other Insulating mate
rial, the necessity Of heat generation by
the bees is reduced to minimum. A
small tunnel through the packing ma
terial will make a passageway for the
bees to the entrance of the hive.
PROPER FOOD STORES.
Care must be taken to see that the hives
have proper food stores. Food such as
honeydew honey or honeys with a large
percentage Of gums. which may cause a
rapid accumulation Of excrement IN the
bees, are undesirable, but may De cor
rected by inserting frame OF money IN
the middle Of the brood chamber AFTER
brood rearing has ceased Another rem
edy for undesirable stores Is to feed apout
10 pounds of syrup made OF two parts
graduated sugar to one part OF water. In
either case when such food Is given after
brood rearing has ceased 1t VIII DC placed
by the bees in positions most avilanie Tor
immediate use. and the poorest food
stores saved until spring, when they may
be used safely.
AS long as the temperature OF the ar
surrounding the bees is maintained NJ
about 81 degrees and no other irritating
factor is present, the bees live so slowly
that very little food is consumed the
colony being almost in dormant conoi-
ton. A normal colony Of bees thus pro-
tected and fed not only will endure Six
months or more of confinement but nave
sufficient vitality left to be usefui when
| spring comes.
PREPARING BEES FOR COLD
| WEATHER.
l. Unite any weak colonies to make
colonies OF normal strength.
2, See that every colony has sumcient
food stores of good quality to last our
Ing the winter-25 to 80 pounds are heces-
| sary.
g. Provide adequate protection against
the wind and pack the hives we''' az
described in detail above.