270 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



"Warm Ban" ( literally "warm build- 

 ing"). This is done in order, firstly, to 

 better collect the heat above for the 

 cluster; and secondly, to guard against 

 drafts, for in a colony so packed when 

 a draft passes in at the entrance it then 

 strikes the side of the outside comb 

 rather than the edges of several combs, 

 and becomes diffuse before it reaches 

 the cluster. The top packing should be 

 connected with free ventilation with the 

 outside, permitting the outward passage 

 of the moisture rising from the cluster 

 below. 



STORES AXD Ol/IETXESS. 



Besides late lireeding, a sufficient 

 quantity of stores rightly disposed, and 

 heat holding protection effectively ar- 

 ranged with free ventilation, the colony 

 should enjoy perfect quietness. Every- 

 one realizes the importance of never 

 breaking the cluster w-hen once it is 

 formed during cold weather, but the 

 full value of perfect quietness is not as 

 generally appreciated as it should be. 

 There is a great diversity in the win- 

 tering qualities of the different varieties 

 of bees, and one of the important fac- 

 tors we are convinced, contributing to 

 this diversity is the noticeable differ- 

 ence in degree of quietness among va- 

 rieties of bees in their conduct upon the 

 combs and in the cluster. One of the 

 strong points in favor of Carnolians for 

 cold climates is not so much that they 

 come from a cold country, for the Ger- 

 mans come from an equally cold cli- 

 rrate. but rather their extremely quiet 

 clustering habits quite in contrast to 

 the ceaseless activity and buzz, buzz of 

 their German cousins. 



It goes without saying that bees 

 should never be needlessly disturbed or 

 even jarred in extremely cold weather; 

 for if so jarred a whole train of events 

 are likely to be set in operation which 

 does not contribute to the welfare of 

 the colony and may even result disas- 

 trously to it. If a colony during win- 



ter weather be jarred the bees are in- 

 cited to activity, resulting in the produc- 

 tion of heat and moisture in excess. 

 This moisture laden warm air arises, 

 and, meeting the cold surfaces of the 

 upper portions of the hive, condensation 

 takes place, producing dampness. If 

 there is no top packing with free ven- 

 tilation above it, water may be even 

 accumulated in sufficient quantities to 

 itrickle down over the stored honey 

 and bees. The honey gathers moisture, 

 bursts its cappings and may not un- 

 commonly sour and begin to ferment. 

 The pollen, despite it's protective cover- 

 ing or veneer of propolis, may begin 

 to support a heavy growth of fungi as 

 will also the brood combs themselves 

 and the dead bees collecting in the hive. 

 The l)ees themselves, through cold, 

 dampness and improper food, develop 

 not infrequently mild forms of dysen- 

 tery, and the combs and hive become 

 soiled with diarrhoetic voidings. These 

 sick bees crawl off from the cluster and 

 die in large numbers, and the colony 

 speedily becomes so depleted in strength 

 that a sudden cold snap usually finishes 

 the work of destruction. A colony in 

 such a condition should be supplied 

 with proper food and warmth and be 

 given as early as possible a good cleans- 

 ing flight, and, usually, unless specific 

 disorders of incurable dysentery are 

 present, will recover. From the granu- 

 lar character of the diarrhoetic faeces 

 of the bees so affected, it has been ad- 

 vanced by some that the winter supply 

 of pollen should be removed. There is 

 no more fallaceous theory of practice 

 abroad than this one, for it is entirely 

 contrary to the natural habits, instincts 

 and necessities of the bees. As winter 

 approaches it is with great care that the 

 bees gather and carefully protect with 

 propolis an alnmdant store of pollen 

 for winter and spring use ; and a col- 

 ony deprived of this supply of nitro- 

 geneous food, while it is able to live on 



