294 WINTEEING BEES. 



NATIVES OF WABM CLIMATE. 



Bees being natives of a warm climate^ need some as- 

 sistance in maintaining a healthy condition throughout 

 the winter. Let us see if we cannot keep them warm, 

 save the bees, economize honey, and at the same time get 

 rid of the excess of moisture. A large family expels it 

 much better than a small one. 



WAEM EOOM. 



When a large number of colonies is put together in a 

 close room, the animal heat, from all combined, is an ad- 

 vantage — to the weak ones, at least. Yet the moisture 

 is condensed in large drops, and can be seen on the sides 

 of a glass hive. This excess of moisture is quite certain 

 to mold the combs, and must be disposed of. Ample 

 vents can be opened on the top, or the hive inverted. 

 Any one can see that while the vapor is warm from the 

 bees, it will all pass off, or so much of it, that the combs 



clicating suffering fov water, mentioned by Mr. Langstvoth, I liave been unable 

 io arrive at a similar conclusion, because wtiene^er the room in which they 

 werewintered, was cold enough to candy the honey, I have invariably found the 

 greater, part of it, after the bees were set out and when they had abundant op 

 portunity to get water. These particles may be seen at any time during spring, 

 when the bees do not obtain sufficient honey from the flowers, for themselves 

 and brood, and are necessitated to draw on their old stores. This seems very 

 plain without the theory of need of water as may be readily seen. In each cell, 

 only a part of fho honey candies ; the bees can swallow only the liquid portion, 

 and must reject tlie other ; this may be the case, although they fly out daily. 



When the temperature of the hive becomes sufficiently warm to liquify this, 

 it is no longer to be found. 



I rather suspect that Mr. Langstroth has depended very much on the testi- 

 mony of others in this matter of wintering bees. In his first edition of the 

 " Hive and Honey Bee " in 1853, he recommended what he called a "protector" 

 as very important. In his second edition he abandoned that plan, as not liltely 

 to pay, and suggested "special depositories." To show the advantages of this 

 method, he quoted Dzierzon, and several pages from me explaining the manner 

 of getting rid of this water. - And now two or three years later, he supposes wii- 

 ter is absolutely essential. In all our rural aifairs there is no branch where 

 there are more conflicting theories than in bee-culture, especially wintering 

 them. No one can be sure, till he makes a few experiments of his own. 



Your's Truly, 



M. QUINBY. 



