212 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. 1 



Heads of Grain 



From Different Fields 



SEALED COVERS AND DRY CUSHIO\S PREFERABLE 

 TO ABSORBING CUSHIONS. 



I have noticed the article by W. F. Cox, page 

 66, Jan. 15, and also the one by Mr. Doolittle, 

 p. 51, same issue, about absorbing cushions. I 

 hesitate to differ with such authorities as Mr. Da- 

 dant, for instance; but I have had cushions over 

 my colonies for ten years, and I have never found 

 any moisture on the frames when the clusters were 

 up next to the cushions. 1 use a water-proof 

 cloth between the frames and the cushion, and I 

 provide only a small entrance, and a cushion of 

 sufficient thickness to keep the heat from escap- 

 ing upward. The bees naturally get next to the 

 cushion because it is the warmest place in the 

 hive, and not because the cushion absorbs 

 moisture. If a colony is in good condition 

 the bees sleep almost all the time, and there 

 is scarcely any moisture condensed, because 

 they do not breathe much. Colonies cared for 

 as stated above never suffer for a flight in the 

 winter, and never spot the hives, even when they 

 do not take flights after long cold spells. 



I could give much more evidence, if necessary, 

 but I am sure that, whenever a bee-keeper gives 

 the above plan a fair test, he surely will agree 

 with me when I say that cushions do not absorb 

 the moisture. If they did they would become 

 cakes of ice, and the cluster would get down next 

 to the entrance to keep out the cold. I keep the 

 cushions on the year round, with the entrance 

 contracted in the spring to protect the brood, and 

 there is a good deal of advantage in this plan in 

 the production of comb honey. B. D. Hall. 



Royal, 111. 



[Where one uses water- proof cloth between the 

 cushion and the bees he has a sealed cover. Over 

 such, with a good roof, the cushion is bound to 

 keep dry. — Ed.] 



MOVING BEES SHORT DISTANCES ON WARM DAYS 

 DURING THE WINTER. 



Dr. Miller, on p. 74, Feb. 1, says that I ought 

 to try shaking the bees in front of the hive after 

 moving them that short distance (40 rods), and he 

 adds that he has considerable faith in shaking for 

 that purpose. Then the editor, in the footnote, 

 says, "Good suggestion, and it will work too." 

 Very likely it would work, but it would take 

 longer, and would be more work. Then it 

 would not be a good plan to break the sealed 

 cover loose in winter, for we have some cold 

 weather here. The last colonies I moved I 

 smoked several times when I Opened the hives, 

 and very few, if any, came back. 



After I wrote that letter which was published 

 on p. 63, Jan. 15, I moved some more colonies 

 on different days when there were many bees fly- 

 ing. One day I moved about 15 hives, and on 

 another 35. Part of these hives were closed for 

 half a day, and part opened as soon as set on the 

 stand, and smoked immediately, then smoked 

 twice more, allowing about 20 minutes between 

 the smoking; and as there were no more bees at 

 the old place I could tell that scarcely any bees 



returned. Has any one tried smoking bees a 



number of times every 20 minutes to keep them 



from returning to the place they were taken from.? 



Lytle, Texas. Carey W. Rees. 



BEES MOVED SUCCESSFULLY FOR SHORT DIS- 

 TANCES ON WARM DAYS IN THE WINTER. 



On p. 91, Feb. 1, the editor informs S. Cheat- 

 ham, of South Carolina, that it is not practical 

 to move bees short distances in a climate warm 

 enough for them to fly nearly every day during 

 winter. Now, I know it would be folly to at- 

 tempt such a thing in the summer when they are 

 working regularly every day; but we have re- 

 peatedly moved single colonies, also entire apia- 

 ries, short distances during the winter in South 

 Texas, and with no apparent loss 



On Jan. 1, l907, we moved an entire apiary of 

 75 colonies a distance of 50 rods The next day 

 was warm, and I noticed a good many bees fly- 

 ing about their old locations. In a short time, 

 however, every thing quieted down, and, return- 

 ing to the new yard, I noticed several hives bring- 

 ing in pollen. Later in the evening I examined 

 the old location, and there were no bees on the 

 ground or shrubbery, as there would have been 

 had they not found their way back to their hive. 

 We also moved an entire apiary of 80 colonies 

 about ten rods in the winter of 1907, with good 

 results, not a bee being lost so far as we could 

 tell. 



The first lot was moved on a wagon without 

 springs, and, of course, were jolted considerably; 

 but the last lot was moved by hand, and, conse- 

 quently, did not receive much of a shaking-up. 

 This was in Brazoria Co., where bees fly every 

 few days during winter; in fact, they gather some 

 pollen every month in the year. If a hive is left 

 near the old stand a good many bees will return 

 to it; but otherwise I think there will be no 

 trouble. J. D. Yancey. 



Bridgeport, Wash., Feb. 18. 



WINTERING IN A WARM ROOM. 



In the last three numbers of Glfanings there 

 have been articles regarding wintering bees in a 

 warm room, and I notice a request for any expe- 

 riences regarding the matter On p. 118, April, 

 1908, American Bee JournaU in Dr Miller's 

 question-box, under the head of " Either Chunk 

 or Section Honey — Interesting Experiment," 

 you will find my experience with a small colony. 

 I will add that it came out in the spring much 

 stronger than in the fall, in June I introduced 

 a new queen, and it was doing well until the 

 drouth struck us, when it was robbed out 



Chas. M. Musgrove. 



Pittsfield, Mass., March 9. 



Please tell me where I can get Bokhara clover 

 and alsike seed. Which do you prefer.!" 



Newark, O. Leonard Essman. 



[You will want both. The alsike seed can be 

 sold to nearby farmers at a low price. See else- 

 where in this issue how to handle alsike. Bok- 

 hara clover (sweet clover) has been advertised in 

 Gleanings the last two or three issues. Sow in 

 waste places, along railway tracks and roads. 

 Requires no cultivation to do well — Ed] 



