946 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 15. 



which is not more than 2 to 8 per cent: then I 

 go and unpack them just as apple-bloom 

 ceases; then they are all full of brood. 



Old brussels carpet can be bought of rag- 

 gatherers for 2 to 4 cts. a pound. They will last 

 a long time — 5 years if they are put on the bees 

 the same side down that is used on the floor. 



Two men can put up for winter 100 to 125 a 

 day, and go eight or ten miles, and can unpack 

 them faster. 



WestGroton, N. Y., Nov. 15. 



[This was written in response to our request 

 for an article for our symposium on wintering 

 that appeared in our Nov. 15th number. As it 

 came too late for that number, we give it here. 

 —Ed.] 



1^ I ^ 



THE WINTERING PROBLEM. 



AN IMPORTANT SUGGESTION; A UNIFORM TEM- 

 PERATURE IN THE CELLAR NOT DESIRABLE. 



By R. McKnight. 



Of all the problems bee-keepers are engaged 

 in solving in this northern climate, the above 

 is the most important; because Miccessful win- 

 tering means a measurably satisfactory honey- 

 harvest. I am not going beyond the bounds of 

 truth when I say the solution of this all-im- 

 portant problem has engaged my own serious 

 attention. I have been so situated that its con- 

 sideration forced itself upon me. 



During the last 15 years I have cared for 

 from 2 to 250 stocks annually. About half of 

 these were kept in my home apiary, where I 

 have a good bee-house especially constructed 

 with a view to successful wintering; and the 

 other half in a yard about 15 miles from home, 

 where there is no suitable cellar or bee-house, 

 and the bees must be wintered outdoors. This 

 has given me an extu-isive experience in the 

 relative merits of the two systems of wintering. 



It is not my intention to here discuss the ad- 

 vantage of the one method as compared with 

 the other, nor to minutely detail the best course 

 to follow in either ease; but, rather, let me 

 outline what is necessary to successful winter- 

 ing under any circumstances. This includes 

 stores, ventilation, and packing (the last is im- 

 portant noly in outdoor wintering. 



The first essential to successful wintering is 

 plenty of bees, with ample stores against the 

 time of need, which, with me, lasts from Octo- 

 ber till June. This consists of sealed honey or 

 sugar syrup. 



There are other minor matters which need 

 attention, and which will commend themselves 

 to the experienced bee-keeper, but which de- 

 mand too much space to be here dwelt upon. 



VENTILATION. 



What type has been employed in printing the 

 opinions of people on this element in the suc- 

 cessful wintering of bees! and yet how little 

 we know about it! I was especially impressed 

 by this fact on reading what Mr. Elwood wrote 



on page 815 of Gleanings. The theory he 

 there broached has awakened in me thoughts 

 I never before entertained on the subject, and 

 may, if true, account for the alleged fact that 

 bees winterfed outside are less liable to spring 

 dwindling than those kept in a cellar or bee- 

 house. What is the true theory V It is, as I 

 understand it, that bees, when wintered in- 

 doors, should be surrounded by atmospheric 

 conditions, and kept at a temperature suffi- 

 ciently low to throw them into a state of hiber- 

 nation, in which the functions of life are par- 

 tially suspended; that they should be aroused 

 from this state of torpor at regular and neces- 

 sary intervals; that they may partake of 

 sufficient food to keep them strong and healthy; 

 that they may be aroused to the desired degree 

 of activity by raising the temperature of the 

 repository in which they are kept; that, after 

 having satisfied the demands of nature, they 

 should ba returned to a state of quietude and 

 lethargy by again lowering the temperature; 

 and that this should be repeated, when neces- 

 sary, during the period of confinement; that,, 

 being thus kept quiet, and fed when required, 

 they will be put out in the spring well nourish- 

 ed, having strength and vitality calculated to 

 successfully carry them through the trials of 

 spring. 



How often these periodical revivals should 

 be brought about, and how long they should 

 continue, remains to be determined by experi- 

 ment. Mr. Elwood quotes the opinion of the 

 late Mr. Quinby, that " an occasional fire in the 

 cellar is useful." It seems to me this opinion 

 is along the lines of the above theory. We all 

 know bees wintered outdoors consume more 

 stores than those kept inside. May not the 

 cause of tliis be that, in the latter case, they 

 are subjected to more frequent and more vio- 

 lent changes of temperature, and, in conse- 

 quence, afforded more opportunities to feed, 

 which may account for their alleged ability to 

 survive the springtime. 



If this theory be found to be correct, it will 

 change our present practice materially. The 

 orthodox belief of a " uniform temperature of 

 from 42 to 45° " must give place to a new faith; 

 namely, that uniformity of temperature, in- 

 stead of being necessary to safe wintering, is 

 one of the prime causes of bees being put out in 

 the spring in a weak aijd debilitated condition, 

 ill fitted to enable them to pull through till 

 bloom time. I may have misinterpreted Mr. 

 El wood's position; any way, what he has 

 written has afforded me new food for thought 

 on the wintering problem. 



MATERIAL FOR PACKING. 



This may embrace whatever is used to fill up' 

 the space between the outer case and the hive 

 it incloses, as well as the materials employed 

 to fill the cushions placed over the brood- 

 chamber. Any of the materials commonly us- 



