152 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



James Heddoa. — I can only account for 

 the loss of bees by desertion, on the ground 

 that they become dissatisfied and seek to 

 better their fortunes, the same as people 

 do by "going West." 



J. P. Everard agreed with Pres. Balch 

 relative to the cause of the weak condition 

 of bees the present spring. 



A. Caniff. — Why will one swarm with 

 only a pint of bees stick to their home, and 

 prosper, while another with two quarts 

 swarm out and die? 



James Heddon. — Some bees, like human 

 beings, can stand more grief than others. 



C. I. Balch. — When my bees were first 

 placed on their summer stands they were 

 in good condition, though having but little 

 brood. A cold, stormy spell of weather 

 soon followed, which materially injured 

 them. Returned them to the cellar soon 

 after, and had they been left out two weeks 

 longer all would have been ruined. When 

 replaced on summer stands in April, a 

 dozen stocks did not have as much brood 

 as one should have had, when first taken 

 out in the previous February. 



After some further discussion of the 

 why's and wherefore's of losses sustained 

 in wintering, the subject of hives was tak- 

 en up and discussed at considerable length. 

 From the brief synopsis given below, it 

 will be seen that a wide diversity of views 

 were held and expressed on this " knotty 

 question " of what is best in a bee-hive. 



J. R. Everard favored the size and shape 

 of the "New Idea" frame. The advan- 

 tages which will accrue from this style, 

 will, in my opinion, render it the coming 

 frame of the future. 



James Heddon. — I cannot agree with the 

 ideas advanced by Prof. Cook, relative to 

 the square frame. The long frame recom- 

 mended some years ago by Quiuby is pref- 

 erable, especially for wintering. 



C. I. Balch. — If we expect to succeed in 

 making apicultural pursuits a success, we 

 must use a frame that will give us a com- 

 pact brood nest. This will greatly aug- 

 ment our success in wintering. Several 

 years ago I constructed several hives hold- 

 ing ten frames in the usual manner, with a 

 stationary division board in the rear. — 

 Back of this was a space for holding two 

 c;ombs, a one-inch hole giving bees access 

 to them from main apartment. In winter, 

 left it open and have never lost a swarm in 

 them. 



James Heddon. — In my county, there is 

 but one hive that has been continuously 

 occupietl by bees during the past seven 

 years. This was an old box hive, that had 

 remained on summer stand every winter, 

 having abundance of ventilation. In trans- 

 ferring it in April, obtained 250 pounds of 

 Jioney, and bees enougli for two good 

 Kwarms. 1 found drones In iibuudance. 



Though this additional evidence in favor of 

 large combs. 



Sec. Burch. — What were the dimensions 

 of the hive ? 



James Heddon. — Three feet square, and 

 thirty inches deep. 



Mr. Evarts. — I have experienced diffi- 

 culty in obtaining box honey on large 

 hives. What is the remedy '? 



James Heddon. — To get the most honey 

 you must have it stored in close proximity 

 to the brood. 



C. I. Balch. — I have had 210 pounds of 

 honey stored by a swarm in a large hive. 

 It was comb honey obtained in small 

 frames. I get more than twice the amount 

 of surplus honey in large hives than I do 

 in small ones, while the bees in the latter 

 are verj' apt to come up missing in the 

 winter. 



J. P. Everard. — Difference of locality 

 influences the result. We should not loose 

 sight of this. 



James Heddon. — Cause and ettect follow 

 each other. Can Me 'not ascertain the 

 cause V 



Pres. Balch. — When bees are wintered 

 on summer stands, I find old box hives, 

 full of cross sticks, do the best. Ease of 

 access to all parts of the hive, and little 

 ventilation are thus secured. The space 

 around movable-frames is a great detri- 

 ment in winter and early spring. If we 

 could dispense with it entirely, so much 

 the better. 



A. S. Haskins. — Which is the best loca- 

 tion for surplus honey, heavy timbered 

 land or " openings?" 



H. A. Kuapp. — I prefer a location which 

 was originally an unbroken forest. 



C. I. Balch. — Much depends on the 

 season. One season timbered land may be 

 the best, and the next vice versa. White 

 clover is very uncertain in its yield of 

 nectar. 



Adjourned till eight o'clock p. m. 



EVENING SESSION. 



The convention was called to order 

 promptly at eight o'clock. President Balch 

 in the chair. The subject of discussion 

 for the evening was announced by the 

 chair to be " Winterihg Bees,'' in its broad- 

 pst sense. Pres. Balch read an able paper 

 oA "Ventilation" and the relation it sus- 

 tains to the loss in wintering bees. 



The discussion was opened by 



James Heddon. — Ventilation is an im- 

 portant feature of successful wintering. 

 Wintering oG stocks in a special repository 

 that woufd hold 150. Gave ample upward 

 ventilation. When the temperature was 10 

 degrees below zero outside, it was 84 

 degress im the repository. Bees are more 

 quiet with a higher temperature. In order 

 to attain the best results, keep the tempera- 

 ture at 45 degrees or above. 



