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THE TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 

 NORTH AMERICAN BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. 



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Wintering. 



R. G. R. PIERCE gave an able paper upon the above.; 

 he advocated greater care and closer observation in bee- 

 keeping. We had passed the period when any one could 

 succeed in bee-keeping. As to wintering it was neces- 

 sary to understand the conditions required, and consider 

 not one, but all. The following facts should be con- 

 sidered : 



I St. Bees winter in good conditions generally, if they have sufficient food 

 and can take cleansing flights every three or four weeks. 



2nd. They do well in very severe winters if the period of greatest cold is 

 experienced in November and December and January, but if the coldest 

 weather is in January and February and March, disease is almost sure to be 

 indicated, unless the hives are well protected. 



3rd. A severe winter following a season that gave no fall flow of honey is 

 usually fatal to the inhabitants of an unprotected hive 



4th. A normal colony of bees hived in a large box or gum and allowed to 

 keep all honey gathered, say to the amount of 60 or 80 pounds will live and 

 keep healthy no matter how severe or how prolonged the winter may be. 

 Instances are on record where bees have occupied such hives from ten to 

 fifteen years. 



5th. A colony of fair strength, as to number, will endure the severe 

 cold of our winters, no matter how prolonged, until a part or all of the cluster 

 have eaten the honey stored directly above ; if the cold continues after this there 

 is danger ahead. By considering one or two of these propositions and ignoring 

 others, one may assume any disturbing element to be the cause of winter losses, 

 but to reach the true cause all facts and phenomena with which we are 

 acquainted must be carefully considered. In northern climates all animals 

 subject to man require virtually the same conditions to endure the cold, and 

 these are quietude, a warm abode, and sufficient food of the proper kind to 

 supply the nutritive functions of the body. Bees are no exception to the rule, 

 though they are physically different from the vertebrae. They gather the food 

 suited to their organism, and, when left to themselves, will store it in such a 

 position as to be available at all times. They are enabled to enjoy a reasonable 

 degree of warmth by their mode of living at the ceiling of their dwelling instead 

 of on the floor, thus enjoying an atmosphere made temperate by heat evolved 

 from the clustered colony. 



(97) 



