3(36 



gLeamngs in bee culture. 



June 



years I have experimented by leaving- a few colo- 

 nies unprotected, but I am now satisfied that pro- 

 tection, in my apiary, is beneficial. In only one 

 winter, and that was an open one, have the unpro- 

 tected colonies wintered as well as those that were 

 protected, and in that winter they fared no better 

 than the protected ones; while in severe winters 

 they have either perished outrig-ht or been terribly 

 weakened. The colonies that were packed came 

 through without loss. Those having- sugar stores 

 entirely, showed but little disposition to fly; and 

 when they did fly they scarcely specked the snow; 

 those having part sug-ar specked the snow a little, 

 while those with natural stores showed slight traces 

 of dysentery, but not enough to injure the colonies. 

 Those in the cellar came through in pretty good 

 condition. Two colonies, whose stores were largely 

 honey, died of dysentery; others having about an 

 equal portion each of honey and sugar had suffered 

 slightly from dysentery, while those having nothing 

 except sugar were free from it. 



As I had previously had such excellent success in 

 wintering bees in clamps, and as the bees in the 

 cellar and those that were protected were wintering 

 so finely, I expected to find nearly every colony in 

 the clamp alive. Never was I more mistaken, and 

 never did I meet a more severe apiarian disapjioint- 

 ment, as, when I opened the clamp, and took there- 

 fi'om, colony after colony, dead. But few colonies 

 showed signs of dysentery — those having natural 

 stores — the majority being dry, clean, and healthy 

 looking (?), but decul. I think I put too many colo- 

 nies into one clamp, and covei'ed them too deeply. 

 Many of the hives were almost destitute of bees, the 

 bees having crawled out of them; in others the bees 

 were clustered perfectly natural in the hive, but 

 dead. There were 16 hives containing live bees; but 

 in every hive that contained no brood, and there 

 were only five or six that did, the bees at once balled 

 and killed their queens. From 85 colonies we have 

 left only 2.5; and as luck, or fate, would have it, 

 these are all pure Italians; and as the bees that I 

 have bought are pure Italians, the prospects now 

 are that I can again indulge in that pastime that has 

 become almost "second nature" to me; viz., rear- 

 ing Italian queens for the market. 



A bee-keeper living a few miles from here buried 

 a large number in a clamp, and took them all out 

 dead; another living near him buried three, and 

 thej^ came through all right. I should not now ad- 

 vise putting more than 2.5 colonies in one clamp, nor 

 burying them deeper than 18 inches. 



I have just returned from a visit to " (lur Clear- 

 ing," the home of Cyula Linswik and her sister. 

 They were again successful, last winter, in winter- 

 ing 62 colonies without loss, and I bought and 

 brought home with me 25 of their best colonies. 

 They prepare their bees for winter by packing them 

 with chaff in large boxes; and during 12 years of 

 bee-keeping they have lost only 17 colonics; 15 one 

 winter, and two another, and they attribute their 

 loss to the fact that they were unable to pack their 

 bees, in that particular season, until it was so late 

 that there was frost inside the hives. 



W. Z. Hutchinson. 



Rogersville, Mich., May 1, 1884. 



In regard to the zinc lioney-boards compar- 

 ed with the wooden ones, if "there is only one- 

 fourtli inch difference, I confess that tliat 

 would not be much of an objection. With 

 the wooden frames, and no lionev-board of 



any kind, we get still nearer to the brood- 

 nest.— In regard to the last part of your let- 

 ter, friend IL. I am very glad indeed that I 

 can so heartily agree with your conclusions. 

 Some years ago 1 came to tli'e conclusion that 

 for me, outdoor wintering in chaff hives was 

 by all means the safest way, take our winters 

 as they come. My experience has also been 

 like yovu-s in regard to sugar feeding, unless 

 it is the past winter. Our wliole apiary came 

 through to the first of May, bright and strong, 

 with no dwindling anywliere, and we have 

 now more bees than Ave have ever owned be- 

 fore in the Avorld. although perhaps not as 

 many hives numerically. I am sorry indeed 

 to hear of your great loss when most of the 

 rest have wintered fo successfully. 



DEATH FKOM BEE-STINGS. 



HOW SHALL DANOEROUS CASES BE TREATED? 



WILL answer a part of the question of W. W. 

 :f Edwards, asked in your May No., on bee-stings. 



I will not discuss now, physiologically, bee- 

 stings, but simply the treatment. I will give a 

 typical case. Some 20 years ago I was called in 

 great haste to visit Miss M., a young lady of about 16 

 years, a strong, healthy girl; had been stung once on 

 arm, not more than 20 minutes previously. I found 

 the patient on the lounge, with head elevated, being 

 fanned vigorously, struggling for breath; entire 

 body was greatly swollen. All clothing fitting about 

 her waist, arms, and limbs, had to be cut off'. The 

 pulse was rapid, and therefore could not well be 

 counted, temperature falling; extremities cold and 

 clammy; deglutition very difficult. I gave rum and 

 hot water and sugar (hot application externally) as 

 fast as could be taken; one-half pint was taken 

 within 20 minutes; spirits of ammonia given moi'e 

 particularly to stimulate the heart's action. The 

 more severe symptoms yielded to the stimulants, 

 and a decided improvement was manifest within 

 one-half hour from the time I was first called. 

 Stimulate in every case, and you will hit right in 99 

 out of every 100 cases. W. C. Bailey. ' 



Chatham, N. Y., May 22, 1884. 



Quite a number have responded on this sub- 

 ject, and among them several physicians ; and 

 the treatniciil almost invariably recom- 

 mended is heavy doses of alcoholic liquors — 

 the poison of the alcohol counteracting the 

 poison from the sting. This is an old remedy, 

 and, of course, it has been used extensively 

 for snake-bites and other similar poisons. I 

 confess I feel greatly troubled at the turn the 

 matter has taken, a'nd pevlia])s some of the 

 friends may tliink J am a little fanatical when 

 1 suggest that, even tliough life is saved oc- 

 casionally by getting the i)atient partially in- 

 toxicated", I "am afraid that, in tlie long run, 

 the remedy will be woise than the disease. 

 Suppose, for instance, the decision should be 

 that whisky, rum, or something equivalent, 

 were the best specific in such cases, the con- 

 clusion would be, that every bee-keeper 

 should keep a bottle handy for emergency. 



The next question is, who shall decide just 

 how alarming the symptoms should be to 

 Avari-ant administering the medicine V Bee- 

 stings often for a few minutes produce such 

 an eifect as to frighten the one stung, and may 

 be the bystanders; but as a general thing it will 



