Year: 1874

9EMK MAh eS"'I'


fFrog, the American Agriculturistl


Rec yOtes.-Advice 10 Beginners


BY QUIMBY.


It WIS probably colder during the


q. month November, 1873, than ever


before ia tais latitude SO early in the


season. The coolest morning was


two degrees below zero. December


was very mild. The snow OF Novem-


her is aJous gone, and the mercury


bas Leen down to nine degrees once


or twice only. Had known that


the weather would be as it has been


and that it would continue so through


out the winter, should not have ad-


vised housing bees, even in thislstitude


The pleasant sunny days have been


freqaeot, and all-suficient for their


health: Those who have been negli-


gent or needless, and left them in the


open air, if January proves mild, may


let them remain. Look to them often


See that dead bees do not fall down


and choke up the entrance. With a


bent wire all can be cleaned out at


anytime or, if warm enough b TO melt


snow and ice, raise the hive OCCASION
ally and sweep out all clean. II mice
have been at work small crumbs Of


comb will be scattered on the bottom


board, which will suggest a trap at
once. Do not mistake the brown par.
ticles like pm heads, perhaps smaller,
that will be seen on the bottom board,
for crumbs of comb. These PARTICLES
after cool weather commences, may
always be seer, and are worth Observ-
ing closely The quantity indicates
the size Of colony, better even than
a sight of the bees If no mice scat


ter it, it may be seen directly under
the spaces between the combs in little
ridges sometimes half inch in depth.
If the cluster il strong and the time
of confinement has been long, there
will be large quantity. You may
tell the exact number of combs that
contain bees between them, and how
far they extend each way, by the
length and size Of the ridges In
purchasing stocks in winter observe
this first, and any hive not showing
streaks of this substance under more
than one or two combs you may be
satisfied has bat few bees without
looking at them. It is not profitable
TO buy such for stocks at any price.
When bees are in health it is apparent
ly dry, aud but few dead bees are
mixed with it. Until very recently
had supposed it was simply the parti-
cles of wax that had covered the seal
ed honey in the cells, aud bitten TO
pieces by the bees in getting at the
honey. Having observed it in some
colonies where there was 10 sealed i
honey, or but very little, it gave rise !
TO the idea of its being excrement in :
dry state. When bees are filed with c
honey, and become chilled, if only 1
for short time, they do not seem 10
digest their food properly, and their
excrement is discharged in liquid
state-a sort of dysentery-in or out ,
side, the hive. Bees have been con- 1
fined in comfortable quarters for seven
consecutive months without discaarg. !
ing any faces unless in a dry state. |
These facts suggested the idea that
this substance, or portion of it, may
be the excrement of bees in healthy |
state. Whether 1t proves to be mixed
with excrement or otherwise, it will {
givea criterion TO judge of the health {
and size of colony. Whenever the ]
excrement is discharged inside in q
liquid state it indicates that it has =
been too cold. The remedy is 10 make
them a little warmer. Analysis of 7
this dust may give us further light on
other points. II


Those who have the precaution to '
house their bees need have uneasiness r
about them, as very likely they will
require less care than otherwise. II 8
severe cold has been anticipated, aud
arrangements to protect them against i
il have been made, there may be a
little danger of their being kept too q
warm. A thermometer costs but lit
tie; the satisfaction of knowing instead q
Of guessing how cold it is is great. {
Hang one in the room with the bees,
and If the temperature is neatly I
steady, and does not go above so de I
grees Fahrenheit, they may be lett
quiet, and if the least ray of light is ,
not admitted they will not be likely to :
waste. know of lot of bees that
were put in dark, dry, warm cellar
on November 10th. Have now been
in fifty days. The Temperature has
varied only from AZ to 40 degrees dur
ing the time, and bees never seemed !
more comfortable and quiet. Should
the warmth at any time go much
above so degrees, 1 would recon- !
mend introducing into the room
quantity CT snow or ice, 10 cool it ,
properly, rather than set them out
4