466 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



I spread hay or straw in front of the 

 hives, so that on fine days, when the 

 bees come out for a flight, if they should 

 fall before they get to the hive, they do 

 not get chilled on the cold ground. 



I have examined the bees after a cold 

 spell, and would find the top of the 

 cushion covered with frost. I would 

 prop the cover up, and let the sun shine 

 in on the cushion, and dry it, then turn 

 it over, shut the cover down, and the 

 bees were ready for another cold spell. 



This plan is very convenient about 

 feeding, as it is easy to get to the bees, 

 and has proved an entire success with 

 me in wintering bees. 



The first winter I put away 14 colo- 

 nies, and did not lose any until spring, 

 then I lost three for want of food. The 

 next winter I put away 23, and saved 

 all of them. I lost one the latter part 

 of May, owing to the rainy weather and 

 neglect of feeding ; also one colony in 

 June from robbers. The balance came 

 through the long, cold, rainy weather in 

 very good condition. 



Some have tried the above plan, and 

 have had good results. Some have tried 

 other plans, such as putting the hives 

 on boards on the ground, and covering 

 with hay, not putting cushions on, and 

 lost about one-third of their bees. 

 Others have tried putting them in a 

 close shed, with no way to get out, and 

 they lost nearly all of their bees. 



I feel that for this section of country 

 my plan is the best, as it has proven so 

 for the past two winters. But it might 

 not do for more northern localities, 

 where the winters are more severe. 



M. M. Hamilton. 



The discussion on the subject of Mr. 

 Hamilton's essay was as follows : 



Mr. Fultz has wintered his bees in 

 chaff hives successfully for the past ten 

 years. 



Mr. Coverdale winters his bees both 

 in-doors and out-doors with small per 

 cent, of loss. To winter bees well, they 

 must have good food, and be well 

 packed. 



Mr. Lent winters his bees on the sum- 

 mer stands with packing around them. 



Mr. Hudson winters his bees on the 

 summer stands, and ventilates the hives 

 on warm days. 



Mr. Secor said we want a method of 

 wintering that is good and cheap. 



Mr. Fultz said that bee-men lose more 

 bees by spring dwindling than by win- 

 tering. 



A member asked the per cent, of loss. 

 He wintered his bees in the cellar, hav- 



ing put in 59 colonies, and took out 35 

 alive; they dwindled down to 21. 



Mr. Kimball said that a colony poorly 

 prepared for winter will come out poorly 

 in the spring, and will suffer much from 

 dwindling. A colony with new comb, 

 and with little or no pollen, winters best. 



Mr. Fultz thinks that the cause of 

 spring dwindling principally originates 

 by putting the bees out too early in the 

 spring. 



Mr. Coverdale advised packing bees 

 well with three inches of packing all 

 around, and six inches of chaff on top. 

 He said that every one should study his 

 own locality, and learn how to prepare 

 the bees in accordance with the circum- 

 stances of the several localities. 



The convention then had the pleasure 

 of listening to a very interesting speech 

 by the Secretary of the Iowa Columbian 

 Commission — Mr. F. N. Chase, of Cedar 

 Falls, who strongly impressed the duty 

 upon Iowa bee-keepers of preparing a 

 honey exhibit for both the Exposition 

 building and the Iowa building. He 

 showed how important it was, and that 

 it would afford much pleasure and com- 

 fort to make such an exhibit. 



In regard to expenses, the commis- 

 sioners would receive all honey and pay 

 all expenses ; but that as yet there has 

 not been any appropriation made by the 

 commissioners to defray expenses, and 

 perhaps will not be until the Iowa bee- 

 keepers have stated what honey will be 

 offered for exhibition. No one exhibitor 

 is entitled to exhibit, in the World's Fair 

 building, more than 100 pounds of comb 

 honey, and 50 pounds of extracted. But 

 in the Iowa building it is not limited. 



All Iowa bee-keepers that have any 

 honey which they contemplate exhibit- 

 ing at the World's Fair, should let it be 

 known by addressing the Secretary of 

 the Iowa State Bee-Keepers' Association, 

 J. W. Bittenbender, of Knoxville, Iowa. 



The convention then adjourned until 

 the following day — Aug. 31. 



J. W. BlTTENBENDER, Sec. 

 (Concluded next week.) 



Every Boy and Girl will be 

 interested in reading page 453 of this 

 issue of the Bee Journal. And we 

 shouldn't wonder if the older folks, also, 

 would be much pleased. We offer the 

 Bee Jouknal from now to Jan. 1, 

 1894, for $1.00, to a new subscriber, 

 and give the "World's Fair Combined 

 Games and Puzzles" as premium for 

 getting such new subscriber. Or, we 

 club it with the Bee Journal for one 

 year, for $1.20. 



