294 Wintering Bees — Good Food. 



October, we should have had a different record, especially as 

 to spring dwindling and consequent death. In the autumn 

 of 1872, I kept my bees breeding till the fi»st of October. 

 The following winter I had no loss, while my neighbors lost 

 all of their bees. 



Extremes of heat and cold are also detrimental to the bees. 

 If the temperature of the hive becomes too high, the be"es 

 become restless, eat more than they ought, and if confined to 

 their hives are distended with their feces, become diseased, 

 besmear their comb and hives, and die. If when they become 

 thus disturbed, they could have a purifying flight, all would 

 be well. Again, if the temperature becomes extremely low, 

 the bees to keep up the animal heat must take m o re food ; 

 they are uneasy, exhale much moisture, which may"iettle ana 

 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 disap- 

 pointment. 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, wero 

 tho ones that invariably perished. Had the bees been kept 

 in a uniform temperature, ranging from 35° to 45° F. , the rec- 

 ord would have been materially changed. 



Excessive moisture, especially in cases of protracted cold, 

 is always to be avoided. Bees, like all other animals, arc con- 

 stantly giving off moisture, which of course will be accelerat- 

 ed 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 for sufficient warmth to drive this moisture 

 from tho hive, and some means to absorb it without opening 

 the hive above and permitting a current, which will disturb 

 the bees, and cause the greater consumption of honey. 



THE REQUISITE TO SAFE WINTERING GOOD FOOD . 



To winter safely, then demands that tho bees have thirty 

 Hounds. PV weigh t not gup.ra— t liavn known fhrun p.tgnB when 



Note.— I find the beeB are most quiet when the temperature 1b from 40* F. 

 to 50° F. The variation is probably due to degree of moisture and size of 

 colony. The temperature within the cluster at the same time is about 66* F. 



