Requirements for Safe Wintering, 385 



take more food; they are uneasy, exhale much moisture, 

 which may settle and freeze on the outer combs about the 

 cluster, preventing the bees from getting the needed food, 

 and thus in this case both dysentery and starvation confront 

 the bees. That able and far-seeing apiarist, the lamented 

 M. Quinby, was one of the first to discover this fact; and 

 here, as elsewhere, gave advice that if heeded would have 

 saved great loss and sore disappointment. I have little 

 doubt, in fact I know from actual investigation, that in the 

 past severe winters, those bees which under confinement 

 have been subject to severe extremes, were the ones that 

 invariably perished. Had the bees been kept in a uniform 

 temperature, ranging from 40° to 45° F., the record would 

 have been materially changed. Bees do not hibernate in 

 the sense that other insects do, though if the temperature 

 is just right, from 40" to 45" F., they are very quiet and 

 eat but little. Yet that they are even then functionally 

 active is readily shown by the high independent tempera- 

 ture in the hive and their frequent change of position in 

 the cluster. 



Excessive moisture, especially in cases of protracted cold, 

 is always to be avoided. Bees, like all otheri animals, are 

 constantly giving off moisture, which of course will be 

 accelerated if the bees become disturbed and are thus led 

 to consume more food. This moisture not only acts as 

 explained above, but also induces fungous growths. The 

 mouldy comb is not wholesome, though it may never cause 

 death. Hence another necessity tor suflScient' warmth to 

 drive this moisture from the hive, and some means to absorb 

 it without opening the hive above arid permitting a current, 

 which will disturb the bees, and cause the greater consump- 

 tion of honey. It is probable that with the proper tem- 

 perature moisture will do little harm. 



THE REQUISITE TO SAFE WINTERING GOOD FOOD. 



To winter safely, then, demands that the bees have thirty 

 pounds, by weight not guess — I have known many cases 

 where guessing meant starvation — of good capped honey 

 (granulated sugar is just as good). It is now proved that 

 it is even safer to feed a syrup made of granulated sugar.' 



25 



