70 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



Wintering Bees. 



Last season I put up seventy-five colonies of 

 bees in box hives, on the first of December. 

 They were arranged in three rows, side by side, 

 each being four rods long. As will he seen, 

 the hives did not set very closely together. It 

 would be well enough to say that they were 

 not put into a cellar, or building, but near the 

 ground, out of doors. The entrances of the 

 hives were on the inside of the rows. The sur- 

 plus boxes were removed, so as *o give upward 

 ventilation. A light roof [of what?] was then 

 put over the hives on the top and sides, making 

 the interior perfectly dark. 



On the first of March the bees were removed 

 to their summer stands. But I found eighteen 

 stocks had gone over to Jordan, leaving plenty 

 of honey, in consequence, as I thought, of suffo- 

 cation. Those that survived came out in good 

 condition. But it seems to me the above is a 

 poor way to winter beees. What do the read- 

 ers of the Journal think of it ? Can they sug- 

 gest auy modification that would be an advan- 

 tage ? 



The ensuing winter I propose to try another 

 plan, and would like see the views of your 

 readers upon it. Here it is. A part of my api- 

 ary I will put into my house cellar, and the bal- 

 ance into bee-houses, where they are kept dur- 

 ing the summer, leaving the honey boxes on, 

 and closing the entrances to the main hive. I 

 propose then to cut a four inch square hole in 

 the bottom-board and cover it with wire sieve — 

 serving the ends of the boxes in the same way. 

 This will give ventilation directly through the 

 hives, and will confine the bees, so the}^ cannot 

 fly out during the winter and get lost on the 

 snow. When bees can fly out in winter, the 

 stocks get so weak by spring that we fail to get 

 early swarms from them. My first swarms this 

 year did not issue till the fourth of July. I 

 must adopt some means to get earlier swarms. 

 Abram J. Brtjndage. 



Ottawa, Ills. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



Melilot Clover. No. 4. 



Mice. 



In' the fall of the year, particularly in the 

 month of October, mice are apt to make their 

 way into box and straw hives, the entrances of 

 which are unduly large. These vermin may 

 be kept out by inserting a few large pins or bro- 

 ken needles vertically in the entrance, at such 

 distances apart as will permit bees to pass read- 

 ily, but exclude mice. 



On a Continental forty-five dollar bill, issued 

 on the 14th of January, 1779, is represented an 

 apiary in which two bee hives are visible, and 

 the bees are seen swarmiug about. The motto 

 is, " Sic floret Resptiblica" — Thus flourishes the 

 Republic. It conveys the simple lesson that by 

 industry and frugality the Republic would pros- 

 per. 



As I am constantly besieged with inquiries 

 with regard to melilot clover, please publish 

 these remarks. 



Three pounds of seed are enough for an acre. 

 The plants do best when not less than a foot 

 apart. The fall is the best time to sow it, as 

 the seed is more sure to germinate than if sown 

 in the spring. It does not all grow in the fall, 

 the freezings and thawings will prepare the 

 balance for starting early in spring. If it 

 comes up in the fall, the plants will bloom the 

 next season, and they will get such an early 

 stand that the weeds will be kept in check. 

 The first season's growth seldom blooms, and 

 as the plant dies, root and branch, after it does 

 bloom, it is a good plan to sow twice, in the 

 fall and in the spring, so as to have a constant 

 succession of crops from the very first. 



The seed may be sowed with wheat, rye, or 

 barley, or alone If sowed early in the fall, it 

 should not be with grain, or the plant will be 

 cut down the following season, when in full 

 bloom. This would spoil the honey crop, in 

 the main, for that season. A short harvest may 

 be expected late in the fall. 



It is a good plan to soak the seed in tepid 

 water, until it swells and is nearly ready to 

 sprout. Then pour off the water, and mix with 

 dry fine sand. In this way the seed can be 

 sowed broadcast without much trouble. But 

 when thus treated the ground should be moist. 

 Immediately after, or just before a rain is a 

 good time to sow it. The ground should then 

 be gone over with a light harrow or a pile of 

 brush 



Melilot clover will grow on any soil, but is 

 rankest on low moist ground. Except in very 

 dry seasons, it will yield the most honey on 

 high soil. It is well to have part of the 

 crop on low and part on high ground. No fear 

 need be entertained that water will kill it. We 

 have it growing where it is covered with water, 

 several feet deep, for three or four weeks in the 

 spring, and we never fail of a crop each season. 

 It is to-day (September 5), in full bloom. 



Several parties whom I might mention, in 

 different localities, are raising this clover ex- 

 clusively and extensively for their bees, having 

 become satisfied that it has no equal as a honey 

 plant. A report for the Bee Journal is in 

 preparation, and will be soon forthcoming, that 

 will open the eyes of bee-keeper? to the import- 

 ance of cultivating the melilot expressly for its 

 honey. M. M. Baldridgb. 



St. Charles, III. 



A colony of bees has occupied part of a chim- 

 ney stack, in England, for upwards of a century; 

 and there is no recollection of a swarm ever 

 having been captured from it. 



In Bishopsbourne, England, there is said to 

 prevail the singular superstition of informing 

 the bees of any great public event that takes 

 place, else they will not thrive so well. 



