PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE W T FALCONER MANFG CO 



VOL. VI. 



NOVEMBER, 1896. 



NO. II. 



Wintering. 



I!Y H. K. IIII.L. 



The preparation of bees for winter 

 is a problem which now interests the 

 young bee keeper. Bees in the north- 

 ern states that have not already been 

 placed in winter quarters should be 

 cared for at once. A iriethod which 

 has given satisfactory results with me 

 is as follows: 



Assuming that but a few colonies 

 are to be prepared, I secure large dry 

 goods boxes enough to accommodate 

 them. Upon the bottom, inside, two 

 cleats four inches high are secured by 

 nails and upon these the hive or hives 

 are placed. Then a board of the right 

 width and lengtti, having cleats across 

 either end, is inverted upon the front 

 projection of the bottom board, thus 

 forming a passage from the entrance 

 to a corresponding opening cut 

 through the outside case. 



Dry shavings from a planing mill 

 are then firmly packed beneath and 

 upon all sides of the hives. Chaff or 

 dry autumn leaves are said to be quite 

 as good for this purpose. I would 

 prefer the shavings, however, when 

 possible to get them. 



If honey boards or thoroughly prop- 



alized quilts are used they should be 

 removed as either prevents the desired 

 ventihition which carries off the mois- 

 ture, instead of allowing it to condense 

 in the hive. The shavings should be 

 packed firmly and liberally over the 

 frames with no other cover than a 

 good roof upon the outside case. 

 There is no danger of getting too 

 much packing on top — the more the 

 better. 



Dampness, of all things, should be 

 guarded against in wintering bees, 

 hence the importance of a thoroughly 

 water-proof roof. 



A wide board leaned against the 

 front of the packing case serves the 

 two-fold purpose of wind-break and 

 reducing the light on bright days. 



Dead bees should be carefully re- 

 moved from the entrance by means of 

 a wire hook. Good colonies are often 

 lost by suffocation through neglect to 

 keep the entrance free. 



Keep the snow from obstructing the 

 entrance, also. The animal heat of 

 the colony may affect the snow next 

 to the hive and a sudden drop of 

 temperature will hermetically seal the 

 entrance. 



Titusville, Pa. 



