WINTERING BEES. 
;u r> 
Spring.” It is fortunate that, in the coldest parts of 
our country, late forage is usually abundant. 
Berlepsch and Eberhardt not only condemn upward 
ventilation, as depriving the bees of the moisture which 
they need, hut insist that it often hastens the ruin of a 
stock, by causing an excess of dampness among the bees, 
although they are actually in want of water. Dzierzon 
thinks that these acute observers have here fallen into a 
great mistake ; and, did my limits permit, I could show 
that their objections to upward ventilation do not 
accord with facts, as observed in this country. So far 
from its being true “ that the hive in which perceptible 
condensation of moisture occurs needs water, and that in 
which it does not take place needs none” — moisture often 
condenses so as to wet the combs and the bees,* showing 
plainly that there is an excess of water instead of a defi- 
ciency. The following facts, which have been furnished 
to me by the Rev. J. C. Bodwell, of Framingham, Mas- 
sachusetts, are highly important in this connection. Ilis 
colonies were wintered in a very dry cellar : 
“About the beginning of the year (1859). opened my single 
glass hive, and found the bees abundant, and apparently healthy, 
but no eggs nor brood. 
“ Feb. 2. — Examined the same hivo, and found sealed brood, 
and unsealed, but no eggs. A considerable part of the brood had 
perished, probably from lack of water. 
“Opened another hive, not so full of bees, and found the same 
state of things, except that less of the brood had perished. Combs 
dry in both, and many honey-cells open. Gave water to all, to 
thrir evident joy, and closed up the glass hive at the top, for expe- 
riment as to dampness, leaving the rest with upward ventilation. 
“ Feb. 5. — Examined both hives. No eggs in glass hive. The 
• In very cold weather, Ice and moisture may super-abound in a hive, but it may 
be so far from the cluster that they cannot obtalu it, even when perishing for the 
want of It. 
15 * 
