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


INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 2.-Honey is
now being looked upon as a necessary
food rather than a luxury in the opin-
ion of C. 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 10
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 disposng
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 a 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 a large number of young bees in
! the hive in the fall. to be sure the
the bees bv good windbreaks, 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.
THE prime objects of packing is
the conservation of bee energy, bring
ing the bees out in the spring with as
70 g
possible in the law of nature as was
possessed by them when they entered
their winter rest. 1t 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 fol-
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, goot
hedge or shrubs will provide an idea
condition. Fodder also may be shocked
and fastened to the fence on the ives
and north sides. Avoid a solid WING
break, and if the hives are placed be
fore a solid board fence, 1t IS bette
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 tn
. hives, six inches on the sides and eigh
-. inches on the top has been found t.
I work admirably.
Don't Clog Entrance.
. A good insulating material is groun'
cork. chaff. shavings, or saw-dust. Be
tween this packing and the bees Their
- may be placed a burlap sack or al
. escape board Che sure to take GU
:, the escape and cover the hole Wit
: wire to allow moisture to escape int
: the packing) Don't use any oilclot'
Z Or tight board cover. Contract tn
entrance to one or two inches lon
and three-eights inches deep. A DO
. may be fitted around the hive (watel
proof top) and filled with some paci
ing material. Don't clog the entrance
Colonies setting in sheds may b
boxed in and buried in chaff, etc. TIL
O.. entrance should be left open. Quadr,
=, pie cases if properly packed an
entrance trouble overcome. are valu;
- Bile. Cellars, dark and ventilated. tina
retain temperature of about as degree: