November, 1918 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



653 



stores, either natural or artificial, the two- 

 story plan of wintering in tlie big eases is 

 possibly as nearly pertect as anything that 

 has yet been tried; but, unfortunately, many 

 colonics are either hardly up to one-story 

 strength or short of stores, on account of 

 the sugar shortage. For all such the Demuth 

 plan offers its advantages. The initial cost of 

 the inner case is low and the protection good. 

 We had excellent results with it last winter, 

 severe as it was. I am convinced that a 

 winter brood-nest should be relatively deep 

 to get the best results. The Langstroth 



the same strength in a Langstroth hive, 

 with the same protection, will winter very 

 poorly. Bees seem to like a tall shaft; for 

 then the cluster can move up and down; 

 and experience last winter with the Demuth 

 case showed that bees in the coldest part of 

 winter would cluster in the top of the inner 

 ease. It was so warm up there, and so far 

 from the entrance, that during most of the 

 winter the cluster expanded over the top. 



The two-story scheme of wintering as 

 shown in Fig. 1 likewise makes a relatively 

 deep brood-nest, and yet leaves the frames 



\ T r / I 



ENTRANCES 



Figs. 2 and 3. — These two figures represent the Demuth mode of wintering a single-story colony of 

 bees on Langstroth frames. It consi.sts of an inner case laxge enough tc take seven and eight frames — 

 preferably eiight — placed on end instead of the way they hang in summer. The outer case consists of two 

 Langstroth hive-bodies and a super, or three hive-bodies. The hive-stand may be packed full of dry leaves 

 and set on a platform a few inches from the ground. The inner case, containing preferably eight frames, is 

 then set down in the center of the two hive-bodies. Dry leaves packed solid, or planer shavings, are then 

 filled in between the inner case and the regular summer hive-bodies surrounding it. A bridge connects the 

 inner case to the outer for" the entrance. The entrance consists of five %-inch holes, all but one of which 

 may or may not be closed during the coldest part of the winter. It is important that there be no ledge to 

 catch snow and ice under the entrance; so the bottom-boards and hive-stand are turned around to leave an 

 entrance at the rear as shown. A cake of candy, if there is a shortage of stores, is put on top. The cost 

 of this arrangement is only about one-fourth of that shown in Fig. 1, and the amount of stores will be only 

 a little over half as much. The amount of packing to the case in this way between the walls will be 2% 

 inches on the sides, and 3 inches on the ends. While this is less than recommended in the Government case, 

 the form of the winter chamber is such that less packing is required. The reason for this is given on page 

 596 October issue, middle of the second column. The objection to this general plan is that it must be un- 

 packed earlier than the hives shown in Fig. 1. 



frame, relatively shallow, is ideal as it is 

 now used for late spring, summer, and early 

 fall. It is just right for extracting and for 

 tiering up, but not just right for winter 

 unless it is stood up on end, as shown in the 

 various Demuth plans. As I have pointed 

 out heretofore, bees in box hives and in 

 trees will often winter well when colonies of 



hanging as they do in summer. In theory, 

 at least, the bees will have plenty of 

 room for breeding without further atten- 

 tion, clear up to the time of harvest; and 

 when they are unpacked they are ready for 

 business, if not ready for swarming. Dr. 

 Phillips says this scheme of packing elimi- 

 nates spring management. For outyard 



