I will tell you how I pack my bees for wintering. I had 12 strong colonies in ten frame simplicity hives about Nov. 20th, I did not molest them in the brood chamber at all. I just took off the top of the hive and set on top of the frames a super without any sections in it and filled it with buckwheat chaff and packed it tight. To be sure the enameled cloth was on top of the frames under the chaff. There was enough ventilation between the super and the side of the top of hive or upper story, as I do not think the caps on the hives were any too light to prevent the foul air from escaping. I will tell you in the spring what success I will have had in wintering.
Yours truly, Otis Callahan.
Wellsboro Pa., Jan. 25, 1892.
Ed. Am. Bee-Keeper, Dear Sir: Bees are wintering well in Michigan; at least mine are wintering well on their summer stands. Had a good flight February 12th. In looking through them I find they have plenty of stores. My crop of honey last year from seven colonies was very good. I increased to twenty colonies and got 450 lbs. of comb honey besides, in one pound sections. This is my third year in the bee business and I like it very well and intend to keep at it.
G. W. Franks
Belzes, Mich.: Feb. 20th, ’92.
Ed. Am. Bee-Keeper, Dear Sir: We have watched every day for my Bee-Keeper because I am anxious to see it. Papa got twenty hives and 1,000 sections from your factory last year. He thinks the outside winter case is very nice. He can put a warm brick in under the cushions and feed the bees almost any time in the winter. He has the outside cases painted red on the sides and ends, and the top is white. He faces them to the east so the morning sun will warm them up and get the bees up early in the morning. Yours truly,
Ollie Jones.