The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-03
(Bv Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 2-Honey is
now being looked upon as a necessary
food rather than a luxury in the opin-
ion of G. o. YOSt, state apiary inSpeC-
tor for the department of conservation
The slump in the price of sugar, the
only competitor of honey, will not
greatly affect the honey market Mr..
Yost believes.
Thousands of persons turned to
honey as substitute for sugar during
the unprecedented prices of that COM
modify during the last year Mr.. Yost
points out and now they have become
permanent users of honey Beekeep-
ers have every prospect of dispOsing
of the product of their apiaries at ad-
vantageous prices, he believes.
Work necessary for the proper win
tering Of bee colonies in order that the
bees will emerge next spring vigorous
and healthy is outlined in letter
which the state apiary inspector has
prepared. The suggestions in the
letter follow:
MANY features enter into the sue
cessful wintering chief of which are to
have large number of young bees in
the hive in the fall, to be sure the
colonies have sufficient stores, protect
the bees by good wirdbreaks, provide
plenty of room for spring brood rear
ing and insuring protection to colonies
by properly packing the hives with in
sulating material.
Conserve Bee Energy.
1.-THE prime objects of packing is
the conservation of bee energy, bring
ing the bees out in the spring with as
and STRENGTH far
possible in the law of nature as was
possessed by them when they entered
their winter rest. It is assumed that
all beekeepers understand quite we'll
that bees do not hibernate or become
dormant or frozen up like some other
of natures creatures. Instead they
maintain a comfortable temperature
and remain active during the coolest
weather, unless the cold is severe en-
| ough to overcome and freeze them. To
! do this they must generate heat and
| the amount of heat generated depends
upon the aumOnt of cold entering their
| hive and vicinity of the cluster; also
conditions of hive packing, entrance,
etc, which may afford an escape for
| the warm air in the hive as an en-
| trance of the cold. The generation Of
! the heat within the hive is brought
about entirely by the activities Of the
bees.
Hives should face the east or south.
! For protection from winds, a good
hedge or shrubs will provide an ideal
condition. Fodder also may be shocked
and fastened to the fence on the west
and north sides. Avoid a solid wind
break, and if the hives are placed be
fore a solid board fence, It IS better
to remove every other paling. Pack
ing of the hives with insulating mater
ial Is put on after the first heavy frost
and four inches of packing beneath the
hives, six inches on the sides and eight
inches on the top has been found tc
work admirably.
Don't Clog Entrance.
A good insulating material IS ground
cork. chaff, shavings, or saw-dust. Be
tween this packing and the bees there
may be placed a burlap sack or ar
escape board (be sure to take ou
the escape and cover the hole witt
wire to allow moisture to escape into
the packing) Don't use any oilclott
or tight board cover. Contract the
entrance to one or two inches Ions
and three Fights inches deep. A DO,
may be fitted around the hive (water
proof top) and filled with some pack
ing material. Don't clog the entrance
colonies setting in sheds may be
boxed in and buried in chaff, etc. Thu
entrance should be left open. Quadru
pie cases if properly packed ant
entrance trouble overcome, are valua
Bile. Cellars, dark and ventilated, tina
retain temperature of about As degrees
Sore or Irritated Throat