THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



645 



about the 1.5th of September, all colo- 

 nies should be crowded to as small a 

 space as ijossible ( by the use of divi- 

 sion boards), so that when clustered 

 the bees will cover from o to 10 frames, 

 according to their respective strengths, 

 selecting always the oldest combs (as 

 they retain the heat better) and those 

 best nUed with sealed and other honey 

 and also containing a good supnly of 

 pollen, which latter will generally be 

 found at either side of the brood- 

 chamber, and more especially toward 

 the entrance of the hive, taking care 

 to place the combs containing the pol- 

 len in about the same position for 

 winter, because in cold weather they 

 are very apt to become chilled (if they 

 have to go around tlie comb for food) 

 before they can reach the cluster 

 again. 



If the bees are to be wintered in 

 chaff or sawdust hives, the space be- 

 hind the division board should be 

 lilled with sawdust, chaff, dry leaves 

 or some other absorbant material — 

 the former is preferable as the same 

 thickness of it as of the others will 

 keep the bees in a much better con- 

 dition, besides being more easily ob- 

 tained. Before filling in space behind 

 the division board the colony should 

 be examined to ascertain that they 

 are all supplied with queens, and that 

 there is enough space in the lower 

 part of the combs, free from honey on 

 which to cluster as it is not desirable 

 that they sliould cluster on the honey 

 since the heat is not so easily retained 

 as by the empty combs. At this time 

 any unsealed honey should be ex- 

 tracted, it becoming sour when left 

 standing, and being apt to cause dys- 

 enterj;, care being taken to avoid 

 breaking of the capping. After this 

 has been done and the frames replaced, 

 fasten the division boards securely ; 

 then pack and place over tlie top of 

 frames, first, a bee-quilt which is free 

 from propolis, and then the cushion or 

 packing to absorb the moisture. By 

 placing bee-qiult between frames and 

 cushion you prevent the latter from 

 receiving any propolis, or from being 

 gnawed by the bees, thus enabling 

 you to use the same cusliion for years. 



If the bees are to be packed in 

 clamps they should be moved each 

 \lay that they have been flying, from 

 six to twelve inches until yon have 

 them in the place designed for them, 

 which place should be sheltered from 

 the north and west winds. Place the 

 hives about fi or 8 inches apart, with 

 the entrances facing south and east — 

 the former preferred. Then they 

 should be raised up a foot from the 

 ground to allow space for packing be- 

 neath, leavin" the entrance of hive 

 about one inch below the level to al- 

 low any water which might perchance 

 have found its way into the fiive, to 

 escape. A channel should be formed 

 the same height and breadth as 

 entrance to hive, and long enough to 

 appear through the packing in front, 

 thus allowing the bees a passage from 

 the outside. Before forming cliannel 

 the hives should be examined and pre- 

 pared in tlie same msumer as are the 

 sawdust or chaff hives, also packing 

 behind the division board and using 

 fresh quilt. Boxing should then be 



constructed, sufficiently large to allow 

 a space for packing of about 12 inches 

 at backs of hive and ends of clamp, 

 and (i inches in the front. Some have 

 wintered successfully with less. Pro- 

 ceed with the packing towards even- 

 ing when the bees are not Hying, as if 

 done while they are, they will experi- 

 ence more ditlicuUv in liiuling en- 

 trance, whereas when flying out after 

 packing is completed, they will mark 

 the location and have no trouble on 

 their return. The channels must be 

 securely fastened so they will not be 

 easily displaced by the settling of 

 packing or any other reason. 



When filling, stamp in the packing 

 until the top of the hive is reached ; 

 ttien remove the lid and cover the 

 frames with sawdust to the depth of 

 one foot. Cover the whole securely so 

 that neither rain nor snow may pene- 

 trate. They will then require no at- 

 tention until the first fine day during 

 the approach of spring, while the bees 

 are out for a fiy, when the liive should 

 be examined— tlie object being to see 

 that they have sufficient food ; if not 

 they should be given a frame of sealed 

 honey, or a cake of sugar or candy, 

 placed over the frames, as at this time 

 it would be too early to feed liquids. 

 The candy is made by the same pro- 

 cess as syrup, with the exception that 

 the amount of water is diminished. 

 In some cases bees have been fed dur- 

 ing the entire winter on this candy 

 and have thrived well ; when placed on 

 frames in the fall it is made in cakes 

 six or eight inches square, and about 

 2 inches thick, while forspriiig feeding 

 it need only be about 1 ini-h thick. 



When bees are to be wintered in the 

 bee house they sliould be prepared by 

 the same process as in out-door win- 

 tering, and at about the same time, 

 using the same precautions ; they will 

 not then require any more care until 

 the time for removal to their winter 

 quarters, which is generally from the 

 first to tlie middle of November— in 

 other words just before winter sets in. 

 If. after they have had a good fly, and 

 return with empty stomachs, the fol- 

 lowing day is cool, and if you are of 

 the opinion that fine weather is past, 

 they should then be housed. First close 

 the entrance by adjusting blocks and 

 slides for that purpose ; then remove 

 the cover and place on top of bee-quilt 

 a cushion which may be made to<;ov- 

 er the entire top of hive, and about 

 four inches deep of dry sawdust pack- 

 ing. 



You will then carry the hives in 

 carefully, so that the bees may not be 

 jarred or the comb misplaced. If the 

 bee house is not supplied with shelves, 

 place a platform all around, inches 

 from the floor, and the width of the 

 hives. On this place a row of hives, 

 with the entrances toward the centre 

 of the room, and 2 inches between the 

 hives. On narrow strips at each end 

 of the hives, place another row, with 

 the entrances over the space between 

 the hives of the first row. Then place 

 more strips and hives until all are in 

 position, the strongest colonies at the 

 bottom and the weakest at the top, to 

 give the latter the benefit of the heat 

 from those at the bottom. The upper 

 rows should be not less than 6 inches 



from the ceiling. If crowded for room 

 two rows mav be placed in the centre 

 of the building, which should have 

 double walls, with a space of 18 inches 

 packed with dry saw dust, with the 

 same thickness overhead. A pipe, 6 in. 

 square inside, should pass from the 

 centre of the ceiling of the house up 

 through the roof ; the full length of 

 the pipe being about 10 feet. 



The foundation must be frost-proof, 

 and there should be an underground 

 ventilator of about the same size as 

 the upper one. running from the cen- 

 ter of the floor, and having its out- 

 ward mouth from 100 to 200 feet from 

 the building, at a depth to which frost 

 could not penetrate. By this means 

 the temperature inside is not so liable 

 to sudden changes. It should be kept 

 between 40 and 45 during winter, 

 with as little variation as possible. 

 If it falls, the upper ventilator should 

 be closed for a short time. This may 

 be effected by means of a slide, either 

 at the ceiling- or in the garret. 



In case the temperature is above 

 the regulation, which often occurs 

 near spring, the doors should be 

 opened at nights ; or ice should be 

 placed in a position near the ceiling, 

 with a vessel below to catch the drip, 

 so that moisture may not be created. 

 Entrances must all be removed after 

 bees have been placed in winter quar- 

 ters, and bees must be kept quiet and 

 unexposed to the light. Excitement, 

 light and uneven temperature will 

 cause them to gorge themselves with 

 honey, after which, being unable to 

 have a cleansing flight, they may be- 

 come affected with dysentery, which 

 will soon be made manifest, by their 

 soiling the entrance of hive. Imme- 

 diately this is noticeable, they should 

 be given a fly (when temperature is 

 not below 45 ). exceptiiis? iu cases 

 where the bees have been given a flight 

 before the spring. It is not necessary 

 to have them placed on their old 

 stands, as after having remained in 

 winter quarters for four or five 

 months, they will have forgotten their 

 former localities. 



In putting the bees out in spring, 

 some promising fine day should be 

 chosen, when temperature is above 

 45- in the shade. Place them (uit in 

 the forenoon so that they may have a 

 good flight— covers to be placed on at 

 once. Every entrance should be closed 

 before commencing to carry out the 

 bees, and may be slightly opened after 

 being placed on the stands. 



When Inside wintering is adopted, a 

 lamp might be introduced with which 

 to examine hives, and care should be 

 taken to scrai>e the dead bees, etc., 

 from the entrances two or three times 

 during winter, without disturbing the 

 other bees. Be particular that en- 

 trances to hives packed outside do not 

 get clogged up with dead bees, ice or 

 snow— to prevent the latter. clamp roof 

 should slant toward back of hives. 



The method of wintering in bee 

 house may also apply to cellar winter- 

 ing. Believing that numbers of bee- 

 keepers may have to resort to feeding 

 this season. I have particularized that 

 part of my subject more than I might 

 otherwise have done. Fulfil the.se 

 conditions and be assured of success. 



