ESTABLISHED
IN 1861
OLDEST BEE PAPER
IN AMERICA
THOMAS G. NEWMAN,
Editor and Proprietor,
CHICAGO, ILL., MAR. 16, 1881.
[ Watchman! Tell us of the Night.]
Can you not recommend some reliable prophet, who will prophesy good weather soon? The storm is terrible; not a road in the county is passable for half a mile; the drifts are as high as the fences, and the snow full three feet on the level.
Bees are getting uneasy, and must have a flight soon. Many report heavy losses, even now; others complain that all are sick with dysentery. In my home cellar, out of about 275, 4 are slightly affected, the balance are apparently in good condition. My outside apiaries fare worse. Two weeks ago quite a number had the dysentery slightly; I should judge about 8 or 10 per cent. How they now are I cannot tell; certainly, no better. I believe that they can stand it a month longer, and my home apiary 6 weeks, but that is the limit.
We are all afraid that Vennor's prophecy of 11 feet of snow will yet be realized, unless some one can be found to contradict it. Eleven feet of snow now would last us until all our bees had died a natural death from old age. Help us out of our trouble, if you can.
Geo. Grimm.
Jefferson, Wis., March 3, 1881.