GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



are looked over and given clean bottom- 

 boards, follower-boards, and frames of 

 honey, if short of stores. At this time it 

 is not unusual for some of the frames to 

 look as if there had been water on the 

 top-bars during the winter, but I do not 

 regard a little water as a calamity, for 

 brood-rearing probably begins late in Jan- 

 uary or early in February, and if the bees 

 do not use this water for brood-rearing, 

 where do they get it '? 



The hives are then wrapped in news- 

 p aiders, a small chaff cushion laid on top 

 of the sealed cover, and a telescope K 

 cover pushed down over all. They are 

 left in this way until settled warm weather. 

 The entrance is usually enlarged to % by 

 I he width of the liive soon after setting on 

 the summer stands. Instead of being trou- 

 bled with spring dwindling, the trouble is 

 just the other way, for a good deal of at- 

 tention is required for a time to control 

 swarming and to prevent increase. 



Mast Yard, N. H., Jan. 17. 



PLENTY OF PACKING AND A CONTRACTED 

 ENTRANCE 



As Opposed to Tarred Paper Winter Cases and a 



Large Entrance; Wintering in Observation 



Hives 



BY E. C. BRITTON 



I read with interest the article by ]\Ir. 

 Arthur C. Miller on hive i^rotection, Feb. 

 1, p. 73, also the other side of the question 

 by Mr. R. F. Holtermann, p. 74, and Mr. 

 J. L. Byer, }>. 76. and as I live 28 miles 

 from Providence, R. I., the home of IMr. 

 Miller, and have made a number of ex- 

 periments with observatory hives having 

 glass sides, rear and top, I wish to add a 

 word in favor of the best jDossible protec- 

 tion for our bees. 



We have from twenty to thirty hives 

 which we winter out of doors. They are 

 protected by boards on two sides, and by a 

 roof wliich is waterproof. 



We pack these hives all around to a 

 thickness of between eight and twelve 

 inches with i:ine needles, leaves, or hay, and 

 contract the entrance to %x5 inches. 



Last winter I uncovered one of them in 

 order to see how the bees Avere getting 

 along. They looked well; the glass was 

 clear, for they had an observatory cover 

 and feeder combined, and were lively, and 

 their number seemed the same as when they 

 went into winter quarters. I left off: the 

 protection, wishing to see what would hap- 

 pen. In a short time moisture began to 

 gather on the glass, and great drops of 

 water hunsj' readv to fall on the bees and 



comb. I put on a heavy black tar paper, 

 folded so as to fit closelv over the hive, 

 and awaited the result. 



On removing this cover, a few hours 

 later, I found that the moisture was still 

 there. I again put on the same paper 

 cover and kept it on the rest of the sea- 

 son, and the colony went to pieces and 

 was no good that year. I unpacked an- 

 other hive at the same time, which I treat- 

 ed by the other method. As soon as the 

 moisture appeared I covered the hive again 

 with leaves, hay, or pine needles, which- 

 ever was handy at the time, to a depth of 

 a foot on the sides, top, and bottom. Each 

 time that I inspected the hive after the 

 extra protection was given, it was in -per- 

 feet condition. I have frequently exam- 

 ined hives in different near-by towns; and 

 when additional protection has been neces- 

 sary, and has been given, the colonies have 

 always been benefited. 



The hives (which are all observatory), 

 from which we get the most honey are 

 located in the tower and attic of our 

 houses the entire year. The entrances are 

 so arranged that the bees can have free 

 access to the outer air at all times, but 

 can not enter the room. In the tower mere 

 are five hives where the temperature re- 

 mains at about 50 degrees the whole win- 

 ter, and we get from one hundred to two 

 hundred pounds of honey from each col- 

 ony every year. We do not have to give 

 any extra protection to these hives during 

 the winter. In the attic we have three 

 colonies where the temperature at times 

 goes down to freezing. 



Each hive is protected during the Avin- 

 ter by a heavy Avoolen cover, tied firmly 

 Avith a string. For fiA-e years the entire 

 lot of liives of bees, both indoors and out, 

 have Avintered perfectly — no moisture, 

 glass clear, and the bees quiet, and they 

 have built up early and strong every 

 spring. We get the most honey from the 

 colonies indoors. Those outside Ave use 

 for breeding. 



Canton, Mass., Feb. 13. 



The Lesser Wax-moth 



I have some very nice honey that I have taken 

 from my bees this season, but have discovered that 

 there is a miniature worm or moth that has made 

 its way to some of the boxes. I should like to have 

 your opinion as to how it should be cared for after 

 it is taken from the hive. 



Thompsontown, Pa. W. A. Rumbergee. 



[It is apparent from what you say that you 

 have the lesser wax-moth in your honey. This 

 should be fumigated with the fumes of sulphur in 

 an enclosed room, or, perhaps better, use carbon 

 bisulphide. This should be placed in a small dish 

 above the supers where the honey is placed; and 

 as it evaporates the fumes settle down through 

 the honey and kill the pest. For particulars re- 

 garding the lesser wax-moths, see ABC and XYZ 

 of Bee Culture, under head of Bee-moths. — Ed.] 



