Have Young Bees and Brood.—I put 15 colonies of bees into winter quarters and now have 13 in fair condition; some had young bees 2 weeks ago, and all of them have brood. The last 2 years have been very poor for bees; the last the worst, being followed by such a cold and long winter. About one half of the bees in this locality are dead.
G. M. Givan.
Moore’s Hill, Ind., March 14, 1881.
Bees in the Cellar 135 Days.—I carried 22 colonies of bees out for a flight on March 8. This is the first suitable day for bees to fly there has been here since they were put in the cellar on the last of Oct. They came through the 4½ months’ confinement very well, except 2 or 3 third-rate colonies that had more hive room than they could well keep warm through this cold winter, and now they seem to be somewhat reduced in numbers. The day was rather cold, snow did not soften in the shade but the sun shone brightly, “the winds were asleep,” and the bees seemed to enjoy the fray, but left a good number of the slain on untrodden snow. They were returned to the cellar at night and will be supplied with water in their hives, hoping to secure the starting of a good cluster of brood before they are placed on their summer stands, about the 1st of May. I usually keep them in confinement without a flight for 5 or 6 months, with good results, but in 1879 brood rearing ceased about the 1st of Sept.; the hives were destitute of brood when carried out, April 18, and although the hives filled rapidly with brood, before it began to hatch nearly all the old bees were dead, giving me the most disastrous case of spring dwindling that I have known in an experience of 25 years. I hope to avoid such losses in the future.
A. Webster.
E. Roxbury, Vt., March 10, 1881.
The Best Honey for Winter.—By this time I presume all the readers of the Bee Journal know that the winter has been quite severe—about as destructive to the older people as to bees. Bella Lincoln, the oldest bee-keeper in this section of the country, died this winter; and since then nearly all of his 100 colonies of bees have also died. My 60 colonies are in the cellar with chaff over the frames; some are dead, and the entrances to others are soiled, indicating dysentery. Several which had sealed honey stored in the summer are all right. Some worked on a cider mill, but if they have good sealed honey I do not think it makes so much difference about the kind of winter. I like the Weekly Bee Journal, because it “enthuses” me every time I read it. In any kind of business one needs some enthusiasm, at least once a week.
C. F. Smith, Jr.
Vandalia, Mich., March 12, 1881.
Carrying in Pollen.—My 5 colonies of bees wintered well on summer stands, in double-walled Langstroth hives. They are carrying in dark pollen to-day; I think they get it from the maple.
H. H. Littell.
Louisville, Ky., March 5, 1881.
Chaff-Packing of Bees Triumphant.—The winter has been a severe one everywhere. Since the 1st of Nov. until the first days of this month my bees had not had a flight. I live in a very high altitude, about the highest good land in the State. The winter begins early and lasts long. We have an abundance of snow now and it is blustering wildly to-day. I despaired of seeing my bees come out alive; they were covered solidly with snow for 3 months, only the tops of the hives being visible. At last the weather softened and I dug away the snow. The next day or 2 the sun came out warmly and my bees began to fly, and greatly to my happy disappointment they are all alive—all that I had out on the summer stands. One only was dull, which I examined and found enfeebled with dysentery, arising from the feed I gave them in the fall. All others were strong. Just 122 days had intervened between the flights. The sick colony has since died, but the others are in the best condition. This success is a tribute to the chaff-packed hive. Is there another record of 122 days’ confinement and yet come out strong?
W. S. Blaisdell.
Randolph, Vt., March 11, 1881.