■r.i . - ■■- i^v. 7-:; kj^j^f^ 



68 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 



I think we ought not to allow him anything, for not attend- 

 ing to it! 



Mr. Smith — All in favor of Mr. Becker's bill being paid 

 signify by saying "Aye." Carried. 



Mr. Black — We want to talk bees. Let us have a dis- 

 cussion ; the members want it. 



Mr. Stone — I suggest we hear Mr. Poindexter, then Mr. 

 Black. 



WINTERING BEES. 



The subject of wintering bees is one which has perhaps 

 been discussed and written upon as much as any other topic 

 of apiculture, and it is of paramount importance to the bee- 

 keeper to know how to bring his bees through, from the 

 close of one honev harvest to the commencei^ent of an- 

 other, in good condition, so as to get the full benefit of the 

 yield, whether it be large or small. This is especially an ap- 

 propriate time to give the matter our consideration so as to 

 refresh our minds for the approaching winter. If we were 

 asked the question as to what was the principal cause of 

 bees not wintering well, and their reduced condition in 

 spring, and later when it occurs, would answer. Cold and 

 the unfavorable condition of the bees to withstand it. With 

 this view, then, what are some of the favorable conditions 

 conducive to successful wintering: 



First, on the summer stands, to start with strong col- 

 onies. 'Second, plenty of well-sealed stores of good quality 

 in the same combs on which the bees are clustered. Third, 

 protection against winds. Fourth, a double-walled hive or 

 its equivalent by pa.cking. Fifth, ventilation so as to keep 

 the inside of the hive dry, but no draft through it. 



As to hives being shaded or standing in the sun. it de- 

 pends upon the kind of winter. If warm, shade ; if long- 

 continued cold, like the winter of 3 872-3, 1877-8, 1881-4-5, 

 we would give the hives the benefit of all the sun's warmth 

 possible. 



During some of those extremely cold winters we have 

 saved the bees, as we believe, by covering the hives with 

 snow. In all such cases we ventilated the hives above so as 

 to allow the moisture to escape through the upper chamber. 



For outdoor wintering of bees we believe that colonies 

 should be allowed to increase to their full capacity of 

 strength during the summer season. In fact, for other pur- 

 poses we think the expansive- system, or giving the queen 

 and bees full room, is more profitable than the contracting 

 and manipulating plan, for Illinois. While with proper care 

 bees may be wintered with comparative success on their 

 summer stands, but for the 8 or 10-frame single-wall Lang- 

 stroth hive, a cellar or building so constructed that it will be 

 not only frost-proof but not easily affected by outside tem- 

 perature, is much more desirable. With part of our bees 

 stored in such a repository we have time and again wintered 

 them with a loss of not more than 3 or 4 per cent. 



During the past thirty years, with but two exceptions, 



