GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



969 



our winters are not cold enough to kill the worms, 

 and for that reason the South is not a good bee- 

 (ountry. He also relates wonderful stories of his 

 ability to charm bees, and handle them as so many 

 Hies, but fails usually to disclose his charming se- 

 cret to your charmed senses. 



It is not recommended that one follow the books 

 in every minute detail, but to study the theory and 

 practice and experiments of others and modify them 

 to suit your own case, considering the season, j'our 

 climate, the flora of your vicinity, your market, 

 etc., thereby combining- theory and practice. I feel 

 safe in saying- that a man may learn more about 

 bees in one year by careful study of the excellent 

 books available, and the intelligent application and 

 practice of his studies, than he would in twenty 

 years without reading, relying upon his own ex- 

 perience and discoveries for information and suc- 

 cess. Life is too short to be wasted in solving mys- 

 teries that have already been solved, and in mak- 

 ing discoveries that were given to the world 

 through the printing-press long ago. Therefore let 

 us make a short cut to profliiency in bee-keeping-, 

 by reading the best bee-books we can g-et, and 

 the best bee-papers that are published, and at the 

 same time study our bees, visit our neighbor bee- 

 keepers, attend the l>ee-meetings, talk bees, and 

 —think. J. M, Jenkins 



Wetumpka, Ala., Nov. U, 1888. 



We are very sorry, friend Jenkins, that it 

 rained and rained. We could not, therefore, 

 witli yonr very siiuiU attendance, refuse to 

 publish that piece, for it would be too bad 

 to make it adorn the waste-l»asket, even the 

 .southwest corner of it. ^Ye hope tliose 

 '' paps and grandpaps '" who know it all will 

 carefully peruse your " piece." 



0a^ QaE^JFi0N-B@?^, 



With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. 



All quei-ies sent in for tliis department should be brietly 

 itated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question 

 or Questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, 

 .tnd marked, -' For Our Question-Box." 



Q[iE.«!TiON !I4.— Is « d/-!/ frost-proof cellar, with liv- 

 (/((/■/-00//I.S- ab'ice, better than a special repository, like- 

 wise frost-proof partly above and partly under (/roimd, 

 independent of any superstructure? 



The one is just as good as the other, if you can 

 keep the temperature at 4:i to 45°. 



Dadant & Son. 

 I should prefer an independent building— the 

 more underground the better, if in dry soil. 



L. C. KOOT. 

 A well-ventilated cellar, frost-proof, and of near- 

 ly even temperature, is ii\y choice. The matter of 

 living--rooms above cuts no figure. Geo. Ghim.m. 



I see no reason why it should be. If sub-earth 

 ventilatif>n is adopted, then the tire above would aid 

 in effecting- a change of air. .\. J. Cook. 



My experience lias been so limited in cellar win- 

 tering, that 1 will not attempt to answer most of 

 these questions on that subject. O. o. Poppleton. 



No, I think not. 1 know no reason why it should 

 be, and the special repository would certainlj' be 

 subject to less noise and jar. .James Heddon. 



" Better than a special repository " for whatV If 

 for vegetables, etc., I should say yes, because more 

 convenient; if for wintering bees in, I should say 

 no. Di«. A. H. M.\s<)iN. 



A cellar may be just as good as a special reposi- 

 tory for wintering bees, if carefully prepare<l foi- 

 that purpose— uo better. I should prefer the 

 special repository as described. H. K. Boardman. 



The difference, if 1 understand it, is between the 

 warm tloor overhead and a cold one. I have a cel- 

 lar of each kind, and 1 prefer the house to the shop, 

 which has no fire generally. C. (.'. Mii.IjEU. 



Bees can be wintered nicely in a dry frost-proof 

 cellar with living-room above. 1 never imt my own 

 bees in the latter kindof structui-e mentioned; but, 

 using- my eyes and my ears, I judge they are some- 

 tiiues safe, but oftener dangerous receptacles. 



E. E. Hasty. " 



With living-rooms above, there is necessarily a 

 tire, which would tend to make the cellar warmei- 

 than a cave or other repositoi-y, independent of a 

 superstructure, would be; and in severe weather 

 this would likely be an advantage. Where the 

 chiiriiiey starts from the bottom of the cellar with a 

 Hue near the bottom, the ventilation, produced by 

 the draft of a fire, is likewise an advantage. 



Mrs. L. Hahriso.n. 



.Vfter an experience covering a number of years, 

 with both a cellar under living-rooms and a special 

 repository, I prefer the latter; yet a good house 

 cellar is a very good place to winter bees much 

 better than to try to winter them on their summer 

 stands in single-walled hives. However, I am in 

 favor of wintering a part of an apiary on tlie s\ini- 

 mcr stands in chaff-packed hives. 



G. M. DOOI.ITTI,!'.. 



TJie prevalence of opinion seems to bf to 

 the effect that a cellar is no belter than a 

 special repository, either one of wliich being' 

 frost-proof; but Dr. C. ('. Miller and ^Irs. 

 Harrison seem to favor the cellar on ac- 

 count of the warm Hoor overhead. Prof. 

 Cook thinks the living-rooms would aid in 

 effecting a change of air, providing a sub- 

 earth ventilator were used, although it is 

 evident he inclines toward the special re- 

 pository. In a word, either a good cellar or 

 special repository may be made to answer 

 the i)urpose. 



(QUESTION i»6.— 0.. What do you assmn as some of 

 the causes of " roariny" ammm bees <iL times in the 

 cellar? b. atid severally in order, ivhat methods would 

 you adopt to quiet them, proridin{i one or mure of 

 thr plaiis should fail.' 



T have never been troubled with the " roai-ing " 

 mentioned, and am not competent to answer. 



D«. A. B. Mason. 



a. Generally it is due to a lower or higher teiiipef- 

 ature. b. I would try a thermometer first, then act 

 accordingly. Dadant & Son. 



a. 1. Want of water; :.'. Too high temperature; :!. 

 Lack of ventilation, b. 1. Give water (or snow); .■-'. In 

 some way, lower the temjierature; :t. \'entilate. 



Mrs. L. Harrison. 



.A sudden change of temperature, a draft of air, 

 or any kind of disturbance. The winter room 

 should be so arranged and managed as to avoid 

 these causes of uneasiness. L. ('. Root, 



