May, 191$ 



O L E A N 1 N G S IN BE E C II I. T U R E 



287 



of dry leaves above and under and around. 

 So far I iim disa])i)oiuted. One colon} in tlie 

 big case died, neitlier from cold nor star- 

 vation--probably lost its queen. The others 

 are fairly strong with bees and have plenty 

 of stores. They are not, however, any 

 stronger in bees than some of the colonies 

 that were not packed. I think they average 

 somewhat more stores than the others. 



But what is most discouraging is that 

 brood-rearing is behind. At this time of 

 the year, the most satisfactory colony is th3 

 one that is rearing the most brood, as the 

 honey ilow is almost upon us. (In fact, white 

 clover is already coming into bloom, in- 

 credibly early as it may seem. I picked my 

 first white clover bloom on Easter Sunday, 

 March 31.) The packed hives are certainly 

 behind the unpacked hives in brood-rearing. 



Now I know tliis question isn 't settled yet, 

 and I intend to try out this very case again. 

 I really had hoped big things for it and 

 haven't given them up yet. To date, how- 

 ever, they have not materialized. 



But the little experiment with upward 

 ventilation did all I hoped for it. There 

 was not a moldy comb in a hive where the 

 sealed covei' was replaced by burlap, over 

 which was a super of leaves. There were 

 six of these and another fall there will be 

 more. All moldy combs in the yard were 

 under sealed covers. Yet this experiment is 

 not conclusive, as there were colonies under 

 sealed covers where no moldy combs showed 

 up. 



Comparing colonies in brood-chamber 

 only with those wintered in two stories, I 

 see very little difference, tho the latter aver- 

 age a trifle ahead in brood-rearing. Last 

 month I mentioned a strong colony that 

 star"ed in Fcbruaiy. That one was wintered 

 in the brood-chamber only, which was con- 

 tracteii to eight combs and had the sides 

 .packed. 



Mr. L. E. Webb, of Morganton, N. C, 

 maintains that the standard hive, even 10- 

 frame, does not make a brood-chamber large 

 enough for wintering without protection in 

 this part of the country. Moreover, he 

 would rather risk a colony in a large unpack- 

 ed hive than in a single standard brood- 

 chamber in any aniount of packing. He 

 wintered every one of his colonies this past 

 hard winter, all in Jumbo hives and story- 

 and-a-half standards. His recent letter is so 

 interesting I am tempted to quote extracts. 



' ' Didn 't lose a single colony, didn 't have 

 to feed any in spring and haven't a weak 

 colony; having looked thru all, find I will 

 have all ready to swarm before April is out 

 . . . Within a few blocks a number of 

 good Italian colonies starved in standard 

 hives. I didn't pack any, except to place an 

 inch of newspaper between the metal and 

 inner covers, leaving sealed covers on, en- 

 trance % by 2 inches, and during the zero 

 weather piled the loose dry snow around the 

 hives until it showed signs of thawing. 

 I am pleased to the extent of being "Dee- 

 lighted" with my wintering arrangements. 



Aftei- sucli a winter as we liavc liad, am 

 (satisfied my time is worth more elsc^wliere 

 than in packing bees (and there's the ex- 

 pense of packing), so I am going to run my 

 yard unpacked, with sealed covers and small 

 entrances, and large bi'ood-chambers thru- 

 out the year. It is such a satisfaction to be 

 free of the worry of feeding, and know they 

 are safe from starvation regardless of tlie 

 weather; but still greater isi the satisfaction 

 of such immense colonies." 



One thing is sure — for myself, I shall 

 never again use loose packing. It's too 

 mussy. Being a mere side-liner, I can easily 

 get enough sacks to stuff the packing in. 

 Don't most side-liners buy chicken feed"' 

 There are the sacks, and it saves a lot of 

 muss at both packing and unpacking times. 

 Moreover, one can thus look into the hives 

 before ready to unpack, if desired, and re- 

 place the packing easily. 



Hives oil gi'eeai grass near fruit trcL\s and ymiiiu' 



grape vines. " A lovely spot where the very wm-U 



is rest. Here you will find healing for your soul. " 



* « * 



POLLENIZATION 



Like Spanish galleons in from the seas 

 With onyx and gold from rich Peru, 



Heavy vs^illi Ircasiire. and singing-, my i.»('s 

 Float in from the blue. 



Powdery phmder of green and gold, 

 Gay IJllle .gems of purple and red — 



The bees have not begged them nor 1. ought 

 them nor sold — 

 They steal them instead I 



Laden with delicate dust from a flower 



To the heart of aJiother a pillager slip.s — 

 And a wonder is done in the plundering 



hour 

 Of the.se my ships 1 



