1872.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



125 



P. G. Tambling, Pomfret — I have kept bees for 

 30 years with various success. I began with one 

 swarm and have had as high as 73 at a time. 

 The year before the great bee famine I had sold 

 down to 33 swarms. That winter 1 lost 30 

 swarms, "leaving me 3, and one of them was the 

 old original one that I began with. The spring 

 of 1871 I began with 13 swarms, and took off* 

 about 200 lbs. of honey. This season I began 

 with the same number, and have only about 50 

 lbs. of honey. I would like to know the reason 

 of the falling off. 



Cook — The honey was not in the flowers this 

 year ; bees do not make honey, they only gather 

 it. Nature must first furnish them with it in 

 the flowers. 



Tambling — I have tried wintering in cellar ; 

 failed. Generally winter them on the platform 

 where they stand in summer. Think they need 

 some protection from northwest wind. In the 

 cellar they became damp and mouldy. 



Cook — I have given some attention to the ques- 

 tion of "wintering bees." In the house you 

 cannot keep them cool enough. In the cellar 

 too damp. He then went on to explain his mode 

 of wintering. For this purpose he had a hive 

 constructed with an air space between the bees 

 ar.d the outer hive, to prevent the extreme cold 

 from penetrating. Above the bees his hive has 

 an air chamber, in which he places some dry 

 material for absorbing the moisture that accu- 

 mulates from their breaths. 



Whitaker — Must confess that the great draw- 

 back to beekeeping is the loss in wintering. 

 Have tried wintering in cellar, but that would 

 not do. The comb is thin in new swarms, and 

 needs some protection. I built a house on the 

 plan of an ice house, and placed my bees in it 

 the winter of 1870 and '71. But in the spring I 

 had trouble in setting them out. They would 

 mingle together and get confused, and I lost many 

 in the spring with plenty of honey on hand. I 

 believe out of doors best, with some light pro- 

 tection. Stakes driven down around a hive, and 

 straw placed in between, is a good way. The 

 sides want protection as well as fop. One hive 

 was under a snow bank and came out well. 



Cook — The experience of Mr. Osmer, of Min- 

 nesota, is often quoted, but he has found that as 

 our winters are so different from theirs', that it 

 was not safe to follow his plans here Bees 

 wintered in the house were more apt to rob. 



Tarnbling — How can you prevent bees from 

 coming out in winter and getting lost? 



Cook — Keep the light out of the hive. 



Whitaker — During the January thaw, bees 

 ought to be allowed to go out. It is natural for 

 them. Will not do well if too much confined. 



L. Weeks Ettery—H.&ve had some experience 

 in wintering bees for 15 years. I think they 

 need some protection, but not too much. I live 

 in a hollow, and am somewhat sheltered from 

 the wind. I usually winter my bees in a rough 

 shed. When I have lost bees they have gener- 

 ally starved. Began with 6 swarms last spring ; 

 have 10 now. 



J. 0. Wood — I have good success out of doors ; 

 cold time cover with straw. Hives are double- 

 walled. Use chaff for absorbent. Last winter 



out of 33 lost 8. When drifted over deep, should 

 be shovelled out when it thaws. Y\ hen covered 

 with straw, must have upper ventilation. 



Fayette Hunger — I have kept bees for a num- 

 ber of years. Have used different kinds of hives. 

 I like Beebe's the best. My bees are more easily 

 taken care of in them, and I get more honey. I 

 place tb*ni on a platform in my garden, about 

 two feet from the ground. Last March I lost 2 

 swarms ; did not give them sufficient ventilation. 



Cook — March was the worst month we had last 

 year. The warm, sunny days, followed by ex- 

 treme cold nights, was bad for bees. At this 

 time the air chamber and also the air space be- 

 tween the comb and hive is necessary. 



0. E. Thayer — I keep my bees on a platform 

 three or four inches from the ground. Let them 

 cover with snow in winter, but when covered 

 should have ventilation in top of hive. I would 

 like to ask Mr. Munger why he raises his hive so 

 high — two feet. 



Munger — To keep the rain from spattering the 

 hive. 



Thayer — I like Beebe's hive the best of any 

 that I have ever used. I place each hive on a 

 plank separate. 



Cook — We should always go behind the hive 

 to work with them ; never stand in front of them. 



J. 8. Thompson, Hamburgh,, Erie Co., N. T. — 

 Have experimented upon the best mode of win- 

 tering bees a good deal. I find no better way 

 than out of doors ; cellars and bee houses won't 

 do. In answer to questions, Mr. L. remarked, 

 that a swarm ought to weigh in the fall from 32 

 to 35 lbs. to winter. If lighter, must be fed, and 

 the sooner they are fed the better, to give them 

 time to cap over the cells. He gave as one cause 

 of disease among bees in winter, that the mois- 

 ture given off in the breath of the bee is con- 

 densed by coming in contact with the colder 

 comb and sides of the hive, andthe hive becomes 

 wet and unhealthy. Have had trouble with foul 

 brood among my bees. Think this disease, when 

 once started, very contagious. Can be carried 

 in the honey, if they rob. It is caused in differ- 

 ent ways — poor hives, water gets into the brood. 

 The first I had among mine, my hives got dis- 

 placed by a whirlwind, tipped over, comb in some 

 instances emptied upon the ground. I replaced 

 them as well as I could. Some of the brood I 

 also attempted to replace, but it had become so 

 much injured that foul brood soon made its ap- 

 pearance. This disease followed my bees for a 

 number of years. I tried many ways to prevent 

 it, but none succeeded better than to take out 

 all the pollen and brood in May or June. If a 

 swarm is attacked a second time, take all out 

 again; The cause of dysentery is too much ven- 

 tilation. 



Beebe — Quinby says that cutting out won't 

 cure, and that honey will carry foul brood. 



An old gentlemen here remarked that he had 

 come a long ways to ask the convention one 

 question — "How can I winter bees without 

 losing swarms ?' ' 



Beebe— That's just what's the matter. That's 

 what the doctor wants to know. (Laughter.) 

 I have been engaged in bee-keeping for 10 years. 

 Have tried a great many plans . Have tried the 



