OCTOBER 15, 1913 



717 



bees, so fai- as conditions will permit, to 

 cluster together in a solid ball as a means of 

 protection against extreme cold. Since this 

 is nature's method, it is safe to assume that, 

 in no other jDosition, have the bees equal 

 power to resist cold. It will be noticed that 

 this arrangement enables the cluster to re- 

 main in the center of their base of supplies, 

 and also admits of expansion of the cluster 

 during a warm spell to bring a new sujjply 

 of food within reach of the cluster. Like- 

 wise, it allows contraction during a cold 

 period without the loss of bees that other- 

 wise would be caught on the outside of the 

 solid slabs of cold honey, and perish. While 

 bees are sluggish in their motions in winter. 

 when undisturbed, they are not liibernatuis; 

 and if a small bunch becomes sepaialed 

 from the cluster, being of insufficient num- 

 bei"s to create sufficient heat to sustain life, 

 they will soon perish with cold. It is thus 

 that colonies are often greatly depleted in 

 mmibers in modern hives where no provi- 

 sion is made for the expansion and contrac- 

 tion of the winter cluster. 



At fii-st sight the bees composing a natu- 

 ral winter cluster appear to be in a semi- 

 dormant state. Such is not the case, how- 

 ever. On the contrai-y, they are keeping up 

 a constant circulation inward and outward. 

 It is thus that motion, 'combined with the 

 heat of their bodies in close contact, will 

 enable them to maintain a normal brood- 

 rearing temperature in zero weather, such is 

 the wonderful heat-producing power of a 

 cluster of bees under normal conditions. 

 These are nature's methods unti-animelled 

 by man, who deludes himself with the idea 

 that he can improve upon natui-e's methods. 

 But let us take a view of the internal ar- 

 rangement of a modern hive, as ordained by 

 the wonderful wisdom (?) of man. 



The firet thing that attracts one's atten- 

 tion is the absence of sufficient space below 

 the frames to accommodate the winter clus- 

 ter when suspended in a solid mass from the 

 lower edge of the combs, according to- the 

 habits of bees at the beginning of winter. 

 Likewise, the close spacing of frames that is 

 practiced under modern methods leaves no 

 opportunity for a Avinter cluster in suffi- 

 cient numbei-s to maintain a normal temper- 

 ature by natural methods. On the contraiy, 

 they ai'e compelled to spread themselves 

 out in tliia layers between solid walls of 

 cold frosty honey, and every layer separat- 

 ed from its neighbor, with no means of 

 communication between them, except by 

 trayeling around the outside of solid slabs of 

 cold honey, which would mean certain death. 

 Thus in this unnatural and isolated condi- 

 tion they are unable to em])loy nature's 

 method of heat production; and. having no 



other alternative, will resort to an abnormal 

 consumption of food in a vain attempt to 

 maintain a normal temperature, and the re- 

 sult is likely to be death or clogged intes- 

 tines, followed by dysentei-y. As a last 

 resort bees will crawl into every empty cell 

 witliin reach, where, if the weather is verij 

 severe, they will be likely to be found dead 

 in the spring. 



THE WINTER NEST. 



What is the result? The beekeeper comes 

 along in mid-winter to inspect his bees, and, 

 finding them in the condition just described, 

 instead of getting down to the root of the 

 matter, and reasoning from effect to cause, 

 he jumps at the conclusion that a winter 

 nest composed of empty cells, into which 

 bees can crawl for mutual protection against 

 cold, .is an important factor in successful 

 outdoor wintering; he even intimates that 

 the honey was removed from those cells for 

 the express purpose of forming an alleged 

 winter nest ; while in reality the presence of 

 empty comb in the center of the brood- 

 chamber is easily accounted for from the 

 fact that they were occupied with brood un- 

 til after the close of harvest. While a winter 

 nest composed of empty combs might well 

 be chosen as the lesser of the two evils, it is 

 entirely inadequate to the needs of a winter 

 cluster, since its presence endangers the life 

 of a colony just in proportion to the 

 amount of empty comb involved. Undoubt- 

 edly the importance of an alleged winter 

 nest has been sligiitly overestimated ; and 

 the wise beekeeper will see to it that there 

 is no considerable amount of empty combs 

 in the center of the hive at the beginning of 

 Avinter. 



Let us take a view of the internal ar- 

 rangemment of a modern hive equipped 

 with the improvements suggested, and mea- 

 sure them up with nature's tiy-square, one 

 by one. First, a liberal space below the 

 combs, said combs being solid full of honey, 

 will ensure the clustering of the bees in a 

 compact form, suspended from the lower 

 edge of the combs, and below their base of 

 supplies, which is the natural position of a 

 cluster of bees at the beginning of winter. 

 It is the habit of a wintei- cluster under nor- 

 mal conditions to move upward instead of 

 sidewise until* a brood-nest has been estab- 

 lished. Therefore as the season progresses, 

 and the consumption of stores removes the 

 base of supplies too far from the cluster, in 

 order to keep in touch with their base of 

 supplies the cluster Avill advance to a natural 

 position in the center of the combs. Here, in 

 the center of their base of supplies, and in 

 a position affording ample provision for 

 the expansion and contraction of the winter 

 cluster, through the center of the brood- 



