1907 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



1437 



the heft and grade of flour-sacking or any 

 strong wrapping-paper that can be obtained 

 at the stores, it was claimed, would make 

 a winter case that is very cheap and satis- 

 factory. 



We have accordingly prepared a few hives 

 for outdoor wintering in our yards, and here- 

 with append illustrations to show what we 

 did. We first took several thicknesses of 

 newspaper long enough so they would reach 

 down over the sides and ends. For a climate 

 like this we would estimate it would require 



FIG. 1.- 



-KIGHT W^AY OF FOLDING THE PA- 

 PER TO SHED WATER. 



about two inches of loosely folded paper or 

 old grain-sacks that are not fit for any other 

 purpose. A large square of manilla paper is 

 laid on top of the hive. The sides and ends 

 are tucked down and folded (as one would 

 do up a package), when they are tied, as 

 shown in Fig. 1; but do not make the mistake 

 of folding the paper as shown in Fig. 2, for 

 then it will be apparent that the folds will 

 catch water, resulting in a leak. 



Whether it will be necessary to oil these 

 papers to prevent their water-soaking during 

 the winter we can not say from experiment; 

 but we are oiling ours, and would advise oth- 

 ers to do so. 



The two illustrations do not show a large 

 enough sheet of paper. It should be wide 

 enough and long enough so that, when fold- 

 ed, it will reach clear down to the bottom- 

 board, leaving just space at the entrance for 

 the bees to pass in and out. 



But it may be argued that a few hives 

 would take all the spare newspapers that 

 could be found in any ordinary home; per- 

 haps, but in these days of a large daily for 

 one cent, most homes will have a good sup- 

 ply if they have not sold them to the paper- 

 rag man; but if these are not available one 

 can go to the produce-grain dealers and buy 

 up old sacking, or burlap wrappings, for a 

 very small sum. This will be better than 

 paper, and, what is more, will fold nicely 

 over the sides and ends of the hives as well 

 as the tops. 



The two illustrations show two hives pre- 

 pared after they were set out of the cellar in 

 the spring, and did not have any paper be- 

 tween the covering and the hive proper. 

 Moreover, the regular hive-cover with pro- 



jecting cleats was left on the hive. We would 

 advise putting on a thin super cover for out- 

 door wintering; then put on the two inches 

 of sacking or old newspapers, old quilts or 

 carpeting, and then afterward the hood of 

 manilla paper. When in place, put on the 

 regular hive-cover to cap the whole. This 

 will help to make up the roof proper, and at 

 the same time give additional protection to 

 the top of the hive. 



This scheme of wrapping hives with heavy 

 manilla paper, or any good wrapping paper 

 that will shed water, is very easy to carry 

 out; and there should be no excuse on the 

 part of any one by reason of expense to let 

 his bees winter outdoors unprotected when 

 a few minutes and a cent or two per hive 

 will probably give every colony cheap and 

 good protection. We do not positively say 

 it would, but we are relying upon the reports 

 of others who have tested it. and say that it 

 is very satisfactory. We have tested the 

 same kind of winter case made of heavy 

 roofing-paper, and find that bees winter very 

 nicely, or, so far as we can discover, winter 

 bees well. 



In the colder climates it will be necessary 

 to use a thicker layer of packing material be- 

 tween the paper hood and the hive. One 

 will have to judge from his own climate. 



PAPER HOODS FOR SPRING PROTECTION. 



This method of protecting colonies is so 

 very cheap and effective that, in our opinion, 

 one could use it to good advantage on colo- 

 nies just set out of a cellar in the spring. 

 The slight cost would be more than made up 

 by the saving in stores, more brood, and, 

 consequently, a colony further advanced for 

 the harvest. In the spring of the year most 

 apiarists will have plenty of time in which 

 to do this. 



If the paper be not too heavy, and be care- 

 fully laid away in the flat after removal, it 

 might answer for two or three seasons, and 

 the inner packing of old sacking or newspa- 

 pers could be used for many years. 



FIG. 2. — WRONG WAY. 



We have tried different ways of holding 

 the folds in place, but know nothing better 

 than common wool twine tied in a bow knot. 

 The drawing of the knot releases the whole 

 thing. The hive is then ready for examina- 

 tion. 



