566 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



of ability for the real jjurposes the horse is designed 

 to answer. There are horses so graceful in form 

 and movement, so kind, amiable, faithful, servicea- 

 ble, that a community can hardly possess them 

 ■without receiving benefits higher than can be esti- 

 mated in dollars and cents. But when have fast 

 horses promoted industry, temperance, good taste 

 and good morals ? My opinion — it is not offered 

 as worth much — is, that funds raised for the ad- 

 vancement of agriculture should be all expended 

 for other purposes than encouragement of fast 

 horses. J. A. Nash. 



HINTS OH WINTERING BEES. 



In response to your request, I will offer a few 

 suggestions on keeping bees during winter, with- 

 out stopping to give all the reasons for the posi- 

 tions assumed. 



To ensure success, the first thing to be attended 

 to is, to see that you begin the winter with none 

 but good stock. It will not do to consider a stock 

 good because it has thrown off swarms, stored sur- 

 plus honey, &c. ; but it is important to know its 

 condition noiv. This must be learned by close in- 

 spection. Turn the hive over on a cool morning, 

 so carefully as not to arouse the bees. Should 

 they chance to be disturbed they may be quieted 

 by tobacco smoke blown among them. The best 

 stocks will show bees between nearly all the combs, 

 unless the number of combs exceeds a dozen. 

 Where they are found only between three or four 

 combs, the most favorable circumstances will be 

 required to get them through the winter. With- 

 out superior accommodations such should be taken 

 up, and thus save further trouble and vexation. 



The brood combs of old stocks should also be 

 examined, to see that they contain no foul and dis- 

 eased brood. Such old stocks, when healthy, are 

 just as good as young swarms, and will stand the 

 cold even better. 



As soon as the sunny days of autumn are past, so 

 that there is no danger of their being tempted out, 

 the hives intended for winter should be moved to 

 their quarters, unless they already stand in a suita- 

 ble place. 



W^hen but few are kept, it is generally advisable 

 to winter in the open air. Choose a warm place 

 in the sun, yes, in the sun, where it can strike the 

 hive an hour or two each day. 



Many people are alarmed at seeing a few bees 

 lying dead upon the snow during winter, and there 

 is a prevalent idea that they get "snow-blind," and 

 fall down to perish. This is an error, for a close 

 examination will show that just as many pevish up- 

 on the bare ground, only that they are not so rea- 

 dily seen as when on snow. I have frequently ta- 

 ken them out from their winter quarters in the 

 house, when the snow covered the ground, in ma- 

 ny places two feet in depth, and yet lost a less 

 number than at many other times when the ground 

 ■was bare. 



A light snow, newly fallen, is somewhat fatal, 

 should the next day or two be still and pleasant to 

 tempt them out. If they settle on such snow, it 

 will not support their weight — they sink below 

 reach of the sun, get chilled and perish. A hard 

 crust or melting snow is "terra firma" to a bee. 

 In case of a light snow, put up a board to shade 

 the hive, and should the air be sufficiently mild for 

 them to leave when thus shaded, it will generally 



do to remove the board and allow them to fly — the 

 majority will return. The entrance should be se- 

 cured against mice, and yet allow sufficient ventila- 

 tion, a greater amount of which is required than in 

 usually supposed. Small pieces, or strips of wire 

 cloth, partially covering the entrance, are just the 

 things. These should be fastened with carpet tacks 

 in such a manner that the bees may pass, and still 

 the mice not be admitted. 



To get rid of the vapor that is continually pass- 

 ing off fro 11 the bees, which often moulds the 

 combs and spoils the honey, make half-a-dozen or 

 more inch holes through the top, and cover with 

 an empty box, in such a way as to keep out rain, 

 snow and mice. 



When fully ventilated and secured from the mice, 

 they may be covered two feet with snow and no 

 harm will be done. A little snow only around the 

 bottom, is not so well. 



Where fifty or more stocks are kept, I would 

 recommend a small, dark, warm room, or dry cel- 

 lar. A much less number will not be likely to 

 keep the temperature sufficiently high. Very little 

 air admitted is sufficient. To get rid of the mois- 

 ture, the hives should be turned bottom upward 

 upon shelves, with little blocks under to raise them 

 an inch from the shelf — the holes in the top being 

 left open to allow free circulation of air. By hav- 

 ing several tiers of shelves, one above another, a 

 great many may be packed in one room ; I have 

 frequently put in two hundred on three tiers of 

 shelves, in a room twelve by eighteen feet. That 

 number will keep such a room above the freezing 

 point at most times. But if the room cannot be 

 kept uniformly warm by the number of stocks, or 

 by other means, I prefer leaving bees out of doors, 

 though housing is preferable ■with a large number. 

 — American Jls-ricullurist. 



HORSES AND CARROTS. 



For two months past I have fed my two horses 

 upon carrots and hay. My horses are in constant 

 service on the road ; and under this treatment they 

 usually come out at the end of the "pile" looking 

 better than when they commenced. My dose is 

 two quarts, morning, noon, and at night — four to 

 each horse ; they have as much good, sweet English 

 hay as they will eat, and cut, whether fed to them 

 dry or otherwise. This latter I have always prac- 

 tised ever since I have had the management of 

 horses ; and I am satisfied that it is the cheapest 

 and best way in which it can be given to the horse. 

 There is no waste, and horses eat it better, and have 

 more time to rest, which is quite an important con- 

 sideration, -where the horse is liable to be taken 

 from the stable at any moment. I am satisfied 

 there is no better way of feeding horses, nor is there 

 any cheaper one — that I have ever tried — than the 

 one mentioned. If there is, will not some person 

 who knows please report ? I always cut them quite 

 fine before using. Carrots are most excellent for 

 horses whose wind is any way affected — such as the 

 heaves, &c. Those who have tried them for this 

 purpose will, I think, agree with me in this ; if not, 

 just try the experiment and be satisfied. They are 

 unsually cheap, compared with other articles of 

 food of equal nutritiousness. Last year 1 paid nine 

 dollars per ton, this year eleven, and at the latter 

 period I prefer them to oats — measure for meas- 

 ure. — Saturday Evening Post. 



