548 



over the cluster. In order to accomplish 

 this plan most easily, remove the two out- 

 side combs of honey on each side, and put 

 in their place empty or partly filled frames. 

 This leaves very little honey in the brood- 

 chamber, but nearly as much as the bees 

 would have consumed under the conditions 

 given above. 



In an upper chamber place the four 

 frames of honey in the center of the cham- 

 ber, filling each side either with partially 

 filled or with empty combs, as one may 

 happen to have on hand. 



For the eight-frame hive I would use 

 about five frames of solid honey, for the 

 ten-frame hive, six. This amount ought 

 to carry the bees until another year's honey 

 comes in. This plan has settled for me the 

 question of deep frames, of cluster room, 

 and of starvation. 



The protection used is, first, a paper 

 wrapping ; then a box that is a little larger 

 than the hive is set down over the hive 

 like a deep cover. The box should be deep 

 enough to come down partially over the 

 lower hive. This box, before being placed 

 ou the hive, should be provided with about 

 two inches of packed leaves or fine straw. 

 I prefer leaves. Fill the box about three- 

 fourths full of leaves; level them nicely, 

 and put a follower on them. By stepping 

 on the follower the leaves will pack down 

 sufficiently so that they will remain in 

 place while tlie box is turned open side 

 down on the hive. Place the hive cover 

 over all and weigh down Avith a good-sized 

 stone. 



Those colonies which were wintered out 

 of doors by the method just described 

 came out in perfect condition — even better 

 than those in the cellar. I had some fear 

 of moisture accumulating in the leaves; 

 but three winters have shown that it does 

 not. 



Oswego, N. Y., April 13. 



[As our correspondent says, it is very 

 important that the stores be promptly 

 placed with reference to the cluster in the 

 hive. In our locality our bees will make 

 the proper disposition of them if they are 

 left alone; that is to say, they will form 

 a winter nest in the front part of the hive 

 just above the entjrance, and two inches 

 or more below the honey. At least that 

 is the rule that has exceptions. In the 

 Langstroth hive, as the stores are con- 

 sumed, the bees move upward and then 

 backward. 



We would doubt, however, the advisabil- 

 ity of placing stores in two stories, as here 

 recommended, for all localities. It is in- 

 terfering with nature, even though it is an 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



effort to imitate it by placing the stores 

 above; but the tendency will be for the 

 bees in some cases, at least, to go up into 

 this ujDper story; and if they should con- 

 sume all the stores there, they might be 

 left high and dry. The four frames of 

 honey in the uj^per chamber miglit be 

 enough, but in our locality we should be 

 afraid that bees would locate in this upper 

 part, eat away the stores, leaving a con- 

 siderable quantity in the lower hive which 

 they would not get. 



Much depends upon the colony. Some 

 bees will locate in the top part of the hive 

 and some in the bottom part, where two 

 stories are given. While our correspond- 

 ent might be able to arrange the stores 

 properly, the average beginner would com- 

 plicate matters, we fear. — Ed.] 



PACKING BEES ON THEIR SUMMER STANDS 



Providing a Passageway Above the Frames 



BY C. A. BUNCH 



It seems to be an established fact that, 

 to pack bees on their sunmier stands with 

 upper ventilation, is by far the safest 

 plan for the beginner, even though the 

 packing does get wet from the breath of 

 the bees. 



Having had from 60 to 80 colonies of 

 bees packed on their summer stands each 

 winter for the last seven or eight seasons, 

 I find that, in order to winter bees suc- 

 cessfully without upward ventilation, it is 

 well to allow them to cross above the 

 frames at will. This is possible if a small 

 %-inch stick is placed across the frames 

 before the board is laid on, with plenty 

 of good packing above, well j^ressed down, 

 If this is properly done it is impossible 

 for frost to gather above the bees, for they 

 will keep the board above them dry and 

 warm. The consequence is that the bees 

 will not be affected by the cold, and a 

 considerable amount of stores Avill be saved 

 thereby for use when rapid brood-rearing 

 begins in the spring. But until toward 

 spring, in the climate that we have in In- 

 diana, the entrance must be about % by 8 

 or 9 inches, both for ventilation and to 

 keep the hive dry. 



Later in the season the entrance is niade 

 smaller in order to allow brood-rearing; 

 but if a sleet should chase the front of 

 the hive so as to cut off ventilation I pour 

 some hot water along the front of the 

 hives for the purpose of melting the ice. 



Lakeville, Ind. 



