72 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Fib 1 



Near two of their yirds there are some patches 

 that probably will give them their usual crop. 

 In localities where the berries have been burned 

 he will move to the alsike regions. Then, as he 

 properly remarks, no one knov^s what the willow- 

 herb will do two or three years hence. 



It is important that every producer study his 

 locality, and, if possible, ascertain whether he 

 will have a crop auother season. It is Mr. W. 

 L. Coggshall, of Groton, N. Y , who Mr. S. A. 

 Niver reported used to shin up basswood-trees 

 early in the season to study the condition of the 

 buds in order to gain from them some idea as to 

 whether there would be a crop from basswood or 

 not. 



BEE-CELLARS; WHFN A LARGE AMOUNT OF VEN- 

 TILATION IS REQUIRED. 



This year we have only 14 colonies in the cel- 

 lar, where formerly we had as many as 200 to 250. 

 The temperature runs considerably above tO, and 

 yet the bees are wintering finely. When we had 

 a large number of colonies in this same cellar, the 

 bees became very uneasy until we put in a tin 

 pipe connecting the outdoor air with this inner 

 cellar. There was so great a difference in tem- 

 perature that there was a good circulation, and 

 so long as fresh air kept pouring into the bee- 

 room they would keep quiet, providing the tem- 

 perature did not go too high. 



It is true that one can winter bees in a reposi- 

 tory with but little ventilation — that is to say, 

 with the cellar closed up tight; but such winter- 

 ing is possible only when the temperature is kept 

 uniformly at 45, or at least not varying more 

 than one or two degrees. In such condition the 

 bees go into a state of semi-hibernation, when 

 respiration is very low. When the temperature 

 goes higher than 50 or 60, there must be an abun- 

 dance of fresh air. 



Just as we have been learning that air from 

 outdoors will cure consumptives, and make sick 

 people well, we are also learning that fresh air 

 for the healthy makes them more vigorous in 

 mind and body. What is good for man is also 

 good for bees; and why not.? Even in the poul- 

 try world it has been discovered that fresh air is 

 a very important factor for the chick as well 

 as the mature hen. So, then, if the temperature 

 of your winter repository is variable see that ihere 

 is suitable ventilation. 



WINTERING BEES IN A WARM ROOM. 



On page 1489, Dec. 15, we referred to the fact 

 that we had a colony of bees in one of our offices, 

 stationed up in front of the window, having an 

 entrance channelway from the hive to the sill on 

 the outside. It will be remembered that Mr. G. 

 W. Phillips, one of our former employees, win- 

 tered successfully two years in succession, a col- 

 ony of bees in this way in his college study 

 room, where a fairly uniform living temperature 

 was maintained throughout the winter. He 

 found that the bees not only wintered well, but 

 reared brood, and actually increased in strength. 



The results of the experiment thus far in our 

 office are highly satisfactory. The colony is 

 raising a lot of good brood, and fresh-laid eggs 

 are found in some frames. Young bees are 

 hatching out, and the colony seems to be pros- 

 pering very much as any colony should in May 



or June, notwithstanding it is too cold for the 

 bees to fly. Every two or three weeks there has 

 been at least one good day when the bees could 

 get an airing. The temperature in the office is 

 kept at about 68, and does not vary very much 

 throughout the winter. 



If this colony should continue to do as well, 

 we shall seriously consider putting up a house- 

 apiary, the same kept warm by steam. Each 

 colony will have an entrance outdoors, and the 

 covers will be sealed down. " But, hold on," 

 some of our readers will say; "A. I. Root tried 

 that over thirty years ago, and it proved to be a 

 failure." Yes, we admit that; but he had noth- 

 ing but a common kerosene-stove in order that 

 he might have a uniform temperature. Over the 

 tops of the frames he had nothing but quilts 

 loosely placed. It is presumable that the air in 

 the room was fouled by the lamp, causing un- 

 easiness on the part of the bees. But where steam 

 heat is used, the air will not be affected, and, be- 

 sides, every colony will be shut in, deriving its 

 supply of air from outdoors. 



Just suppose that this plan should prove to be 

 a success. One could have tremendously strong 

 colonies early in the spring. While brood-rear- 

 ing would necessarily consume the stores, yet 

 the trade of syrup or honey for young bees would 

 be a good one. 



There really seems to be no reason why a col- 

 ony or colonies having entrances leading out- 

 doors, with the hives inside kept at a temperature 

 of 70 degrees, should not give good results. One 

 would naturally suppose that the warm air sur- 

 rounding the hive during mid-winter would force 

 the bees out; but, strangely enough, the bees 

 from our indoor hive never fly out except when 

 the bees in the chaff hives in the large apiary 

 come out. 



The sides of the hives in the office are of glass, 

 and it is a pleasure to see those healthy bees ly- 

 ing almost dormant, but spread out over the 

 frames as if it were summer. 



This is an experiment that any one can try, 

 and we suggest that our readers try it and report 

 results. 



SHIPPING HONEY IN CARLOADS ON SIGHT DRAFT 

 WITH BILL OF LADING ATTACHED; SOME OF 

 THE TROUBLES OF THE SHIPPER AND CON- 

 SIGNIE. 



Through the various correspondence that has 

 been going on through this office for the last five 

 or six years, it is increasingly apparent that the 

 plan of sending a carload of honey, freight, c. o. 

 d., is far from satisfactory. Time and time again 

 we are called on to arbitrate differences between 

 shipper and consignee. It happens in most cases 

 that the former is not the producer, but a middle- 

 man who has bought up various lots of honey — 

 enough to make up a carload, and then puts it on 

 the market. The honey is sold at a stipulated 

 price, freight c. o. d., that is, the bill of lading 

 with sight draft attached is sent to some bank in 

 the town of the consignee for collection The 

 latter is allowed the privilege of examining the 

 car before unloading; and if it is not satisfactory 

 he may refuse it. 



So far the deal looks simple and fair to both 

 parties; but, unfortunately, it does not workout so 

 beautifully in practice in many cases. If the con- 



