1308 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Sept. 15 



uy of bees might winter in a hive reeking 

 with moisture, and with the outside combs 

 covered with mold, and come out alive in 

 spring. However, there is a vast difference 

 between a colony of bees that comes through 

 the winter alive and one that comes through 

 in a good healthy condition. 



It is not enough that they be alive in the 

 spring; but in order to build up in time for 

 the harvest, and thus become profitable hon- 

 ey-gatherers, they mvist be in a healthy con- 

 dition—strong, active, and alert, and ready 

 for business. 



The question naturally arises, "Why is 

 ventilation necessary to the successful win- 

 tering of bees?" It is true that very little 

 ventilation would be required by the bees 

 during winter if it were not for the moisture 

 that is constantly being thrown off by the 

 bees thi'ough the respiratory system; and if 

 this surplus moisture is not speedily conduct- 

 ed out of the hive the I'esult will be that the 

 air within the hive will soon become so heav- 

 ily charged with moisture that it would con- 

 dense on the sides of the hive and form ice 

 and frost, turning the hive into a veritable 

 cold storage, causing the stores to become 

 sour, which results in distended intestines 

 and dysentery, and is fatal to the health of 

 the colony. 



The question that arises at this point is, 

 "How shall we dispose of this moisture?" 

 So far as we have been able to learn, venti- 

 lation is the only means by which this pur- 

 pose can be successfully accomplished. There 

 are two methods of applying the remedy. 

 One is by upwai'd ventilation by means of 

 suitable moisture-conducting material that 

 will gradually conduct away the moisture as 

 fast as it arises from the bees, thus keeping 

 the inside of the hive dry as well as the combs. 



A flat cover, laid directly upon the chaff" 

 packing over the brood-chamber of a strong 

 colony of bees, cuts off the circulation of air 

 above the packing. This soon becomes heav- 

 ily charged with moisture which is forced 

 back into the hive, causing the packing to 

 become damp and moldy, and a direct men- 

 ace to the health of the colony; hence care 

 should be taken to allow a free circulation 

 of air through the chaff" packing above the 

 brood-chamber. Cai'e should also be taken 

 not to allow too much ventilation, either 

 above through the chaff tray or at the en- 

 trance. 



Another means of conducting away the 

 moisture is by diffusion through an air- 

 chamber live inches deep under the brood- 

 chamber. In this case a sealed cover is used 

 with plenty of packing above it, which pre- 

 vents the condensing of moisture on the un- 

 der side of the cover, and the humidity is 

 diff"used through the air-chamber and passes 

 out at the entrance. In either case the en- 

 trance during winter should not exceed |X3 

 inches. I am aware that many will take is- 

 sue with me regarding the size of entrance 

 for winter. Scientific theorists will tell us 

 that bees require a very large entrance when 

 wintered out of doors; but the evidence of 

 the bees themselves, backed up by years of 



successful outdoor wintering with an entrance 

 1X3 inches, would seem to contradict such 

 a theory. We believe that over-ventilation 

 kills more bees in outdoor wintering than 

 any other one thing. We believe that safety 

 lies in the medium course, so we use an air- 

 chamber under our hives five inches deep, 

 whether wintered in the cellar or out of doors. 

 This acts as a safety-valve, and, with the 

 proper amount of moisture-conducting ma- 

 terial above the brood-chamber, with an en- 

 trance |X3 for outdoor wintering, we have 

 solved the problem of moisture and ventila- 

 tion in connection with outdoor wintering. 

 No one should attempt to winter a weak col- 

 ony of bees out of doors. 



Having our strongest colonies prepared as 

 above, with outside winter cases having a 

 space of two inches between the hive and 

 case, which is filled wilh chaff or dry saw- 

 du.st and several thicknesses of heavy cloth 

 spread over the top of the brood-chamber, 

 and coming well down over the sides of the 

 hive, and a tray with five, inches of dry chaff 

 or sawdust with a good water-proof cover 

 which telescopes over the winter case, we 

 have a certain feeling of security regarding 

 the successful wintering of our bees, espe- 

 cially since we have never yet lost a colony 

 of bees that we prepared in this way except 

 by starvation. Bees that go into winter 

 quai'ters in the above condition will need no 

 further attention until time to prepare for 

 next season's harvest. 



Birmingham, Ohio. 



[We almost feel that what our correspon- 

 dent says on the size of entrances for outdoor- 

 wintered colonies should be put in italics. 

 At all events, what he says on the subject 

 has been verified over and over again in our 

 apiaries; but one must see to it that these 

 narrow openings are kept clear of dead bees 

 during the winter. — Ed.] 



SECTIONAL HIVES. 



Their Advantages and Disadvantages. 



BY K. C. AIKEN. 



[When Mr. Aiken wrote this article he had not seen 

 the article by J. E. Hand, page 844, wherein he de- 

 scribes a method of finding queens in divisible-brood- 

 chamber hives without handling frames; nor had he 

 seen what J. A. Green wrote on the same subject, 

 page 951. The fact that he confirms the statement 

 made by the other two goes to show queen-hunting 

 can be simplified. 



Incidentally it may be observed that Mr. Aiken agrees 

 in the main with what others have said on the sub- 

 ject of divisible-brood-chamber hives.— Ed.] 



Since the shallow-frame divisible-cham- 

 ber hive is under discussion I feel that I may 

 take a hand in it too. I am not by any 

 means new to the subject, nor am I with- 

 out a large experience, having used such 

 hives for many years, and that extensively, 

 and of various styles and plans. 



I began the study of divisible-brood-cham- 

 ber hives with the writings of Heddon; fol- 

 lowed quite minutely all that he wrote on 

 the subject, and the discussion as participat- 

 ed in by others. 



