r 



1HE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



Then I chopped the hive into a barrel 

 upon a bed of leaves, and stuffed all 

 around it. Then I turned the barrel 

 upon its side, so that the hive would 

 be in the right position, with the bar- 

 rel higher at the back. Then I un- 

 covered their fly entrance. I enjoyed 

 watching those bees all winter, for 

 they seemed to be so very comfortable. 

 If snow fell on the barrel it slipped off 

 on the first approach of sunshine. 

 These colonies were very strong in the 

 spring. I give this experiment as a 

 hint to those who have only a colony 

 or two and are desirious of keeping 

 them over the winter. 



I have a friend in Northern Illinois, 

 up on the lake shore, who winters her 

 bees in the open air successfully. The 

 hives are in rows, and a box resembl- 

 ing a wagon box, held together with 

 iron rods, is set over them. This box 

 has holes cut in front of every hive so 

 to that the bees can fly out. AVhen 

 this is put on it is filled with leaves, 

 so that the hive is entirely surround- 

 ed with them. A good roof protects 

 them from dampness. 



Peoria, III. 



Ventilating Hives. 



BY J. E. POND. 



My experience covers over twenty 

 years of time, and has been drawn 

 from a constant series of experiments, 

 the result being that I do not fear cold 

 of itself, and that if the bees can be 

 kept dry they will safely withstand 

 any reasonable degree of winter weath- 

 er. The sole secret, in my opinion, 

 being, ample stores and freedom from 

 moisture. I have always wintered on 

 summer stands, in all sorts of hives, 

 single and double walled, chaff, etc., 

 and have not met, during; the whole 



time I have kept bees, with one per 

 cent, loss, and, in fact, the only losses 

 I have ever met with were my own 

 fault, and owing to the want of suffi- 

 cient stores to carry them through. 



My experience teaches me that a 

 large entrance is a necessity ; that 

 ventilation should be downward, and 

 that when a hive is so prepared, that 

 little, if any, moisture is retained, the 

 bees are perfectly safe so far as cold 

 is concerned. 



My winter preparation consists 

 simply in giving from one to two 

 inches of space between top of frames 

 and the cover, or mat ; that is, I use 

 only a piece of burlap, or old carpet, 

 to confine the bees, at the top leaving 

 not less than one inch of space be- 

 tween the mat and top of frames. On 

 top of the mat I pack loosely five or 

 six inches of forest leaves, or their 

 equivalent. 



This method of preparation, with 

 ample stores, and a large entrance, 

 carries my bees through safely all the 

 time. If I am asked why, I should 

 say, the excess of moisture is carried 

 off at the top of hive ; the ventilation 

 is downward through the entrance, 

 and this excess of moisture cannot be 

 collected. This is not theory ; it is 

 practice. It is not an improved ex- 

 periment, but a matter that has been 

 tested over and over again, with like 

 results in every case. 



I prefer double walled hives as they 

 do give protection, to a large extent, 

 but I winter bees in single walled 

 hives, with temperature 15° to 20° 

 below zero. 



Complexity has always been at war 

 with simplicity, but when all learn 

 that simplicity is king, then they will 

 begin to accomplish great results. 



JSorth Attleboro, Mass. 



