CIHM Microfiche Series (l\/lonographs) ICIMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Instituta for Historical Microraproductions / institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquas Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtairi the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checl/ita illuatrent la mAthodo. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MiCROCOfV RISOWTION TBT CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) A I /IPPUED IIVHGE Inc '655 Eoat Moin Slr««t (716) 2B8 - 5989 - Fo, Ontario Department of Agriculture FRUIT BRANCH BULLETIN 256 The Wintering of Bees in Ontario MORLEY PETTIT, Provincial Apiarist Snug In their wint, . home thee* be«8 require absolutely no care from October till April. TORONTO, ONTARIO, OCTOBER WI? ll BULLETIN 256] [OCTOBER. 1917 Ontario Department of Agriculture FRUIT BRANCH The Wintering of Bees in Ontario MOBLET PeTTIT, PHOVlVCIAt APIAUIST. INTRODUCTION. The beekeepers of Ontario lose from 10 per cent, to 50 per cent, of their colonies through winter loss and "spring dwindling" every year. The colonies which survive, being subjected to the same conditions, are weakened in population and vitality in the same proportion. This is an enormous waste which, if applied to other live stock, would be ascribed to some epidemic. The majority of bee- keepers, however, take the smaller loss as a matter of course, and the larger with plans to do better " next year." It would be surprising that the heaviest loss usually occurs in the southern counties, if one did not remember human nature, and the fact that bees will winter there after a fashion in an average winter with- out protection. They are, therefore, not protected, and the periodical "old fashioned " winter takes off 76 per cent, of them, com-letely destroying many whole apiaries. The bee literature of America for a generation and more has been filled with theories on the wintering of bees and the causes of loss. Many of these theories have since been exploded or ignored; but, as a result of countless experiments and a free interchange of ideas, successful beekeepers have developed methoils of winter- ing founded on principles which recent scientific investigation is proving to be in the main correct. It would be useless, and often unfair, to attempt to give credit to the originators of different methods or ideas. Like hive-nectar in a honey-flow, these are free currency amongst beekeepers who read and attend conventions, and when credit is given, the inventor is liable to be ignored and the copyist made famous. It has been well said that bees cannot be managed by rule, as they never do things invariably. No doubt, if we understood all the factors of ciivironment and the influence of each on bee-behavior, we could say that, given such and such conditions, and bees will behave so and so. In wintering bees in Ontario, bee- keepers follow two opposite plans. Some place their bees in a repository, such as a cellar underground, where they attempt to keep them inactive by trying to con- trol all the factors of environment, such as light, temperature, ventilation, etc., until such time as the season and weather permit them to resume their summer activities. Others protect the hives on their summer stands, leaving the bees free to come out and fly whenever weather permits. Both of these plans, when carried out intelligently, have been found to yield good results, and while much is yet to be explained in this difficult problem successful wintering has been more nearly reduced to a "rule of thumb" than almost any other branch of bee management I'RIMFI'LKS t)V SIMCKSSKIL WINTKHIN'O. A* all iioml nil... an. Im-..! ..ii >oiiii,l priii.i,. h. it will U- profitiiMr to call nttfiiti. II to ^„ni.- ..f til- |.riii.i).|.- „f Hiiit.rinyr U i..ro (l..^(ril.iii>r m.-tli.Ml. ,.f a|.|.l,v- iiiK th.-iii. it lia^ Imvii wfll sairo.lu.ilon.'' It lm8 Imtii >lioun l.y l'liilli|.* aiul IVniutli. tli.- authors of the alN.v...mcntion...l l.iijletin. that nt hivo t.-Mi|H.ratun-s l...t«....|i alH.iit ol uii.l (m° Fahn'tilioit a normal l.r.H..II...< mloiiy of Imts .I.,..s ii„t form a cliist.T. hut tif U'l-s ri-maiii iiiactivp on Ihi- coml.- ^^lM•ll th.. liiv,. i,.m,H.ratiir.. falls UOow :,r hilirciilu.it the Imhm f..rm a .histrr. ami thoM- III thr ctntrf iM.^'iii to ^'nuTat.- lu-at by muscular a.-tivitv. while thos." in tlu" outer portion serve ns insuhilors l.v erow.l'iii^f .lose tojfcther u-iiallv with tiu-ir h..a.ls towar.1. th ntre of the ,\m*.-r. The innernuHt |H.rtion rapi.llv -7*?'^5«^ \^ ^¥^ ■*« ^m I • tiafe^^- O.A.C apiary In Bummcr. Note that alternate rows face In oppoiite directions and hives easily form groups of four for winter packing. "fi~»"e airecuon=. ana acquires a tem|H'rature .■o,isi(i,.ral.ly hi>rlier than that of the air alwut the 1hh-.s before clusterinjr was nec'ssary. often jroin- to !»«»° Fahrenheit in normal colonies and higher in abnormal ones. The nniscular a.tivity necessary for heat-j?eneration causes increased .■onsumption of stores; this, in turn, causes an accumulation of ftt!ces within the bees, wiiich is more rapid if the stores contain a high ]>er(entage of indigestible materials, and the presence of faves causes discomfort, which in- creases activity, often resulting in death from excessive heat generation. AVhen the accumulation is so excessive that the bees are unalde to retain the fanes there is a discharge in and about the front of the hive, and the c(.lony is said to be affected with ilysenteiy. Mild days, which allow lK>es to fly freely and discharge normally reduce the danger of loss from this cause. With this general explanation it may be stated that the successful wintering of bees depends on the bees, the stores, the hive, the immediate surroundings of the hive which we may call the location, and the general surroundings, including latitude, climate and weather. ' The Bkk8. Beci may l>e compared to minute " dry batterii-n.'' Each \» " charged " with (0 much vital energy which, when expemled, cannot bo replaced. This ihonld be used in protltable labor, ducIi as gathering nectnr, .'orreting food for Unra or was for comb, and to on. In the worloci expend their portion of energy and wear out in a few we<'k^. Those wliiih emerge in autumn, after the season's work is ovir, are expected i> conserve their energy for the spring brood- rearing, expending as little as possible in maintaining colony temperature during winter. Young l)ee8, with their full " charge " of energy are, therefore, moat desirable in autumn, and there should be plenty of them to divide the rcsponsibilitj of retaining favorable cluster conditions during the winter. The queen »ihoald alio be young and vigorous to insure rapid development of colony strength in spring. I View of O.A.C. apiary giving promtnenre to single cases, and their use is largely a matter oi preference. These are more tzpeutro The Stobu. As bees do not discharge the refuse from the digestion of food, except in i^ght. this is retained in the intestines during the cold months of winter. With view it is easy to see Vie importance of supplying the colony in winter wiw containing the smallest percentage possible of indigestible r.iatter. quality of hoiiey well ripened is considered a good winter store; unfor we are not always sure what has been stored in the brood-chamber dur. autumn months. Sometimes bees gather from sources which do not give tl» of stores. They may gather it during the cool weather, when they are not to ripen it properly, and a degree of fermentation may result. Such stores «• f » are liable to cause dysentery in the winter. Sometimes these inferior baB» granulate readily in the brood-chamber during winter, and this granulated hoa^ is sure death to the colony. If, on the other hand, v-e give each colony ten puundk or mere of syrup made from pure sugar rather late in the fall, we are sure of the kind of stores they have next the cluster, and know that, so far as food is concerned, the colonv will winter successfullv. 2 b" -^JJ" ^^ P^'f^"" ^y ™"y "' ""f ">»•' »ucccwful brakeeperi to leave •rtwctmf Hi,,e» on the hive. « long u the be. .re liable to »» gathering any. £l?-«lr\ T." r '""r*^ '•''• *••''" ""V met of the honey they hate •J« Coring, leaving the brood-chamber. rather light and ready for a hoavy ft*d J. S^/ifn '*■ A , "''T ". """' ''^ •• "•"^•^ •"«"' 'y'"? " 't trill take up iJt^ «»^""'''- ^' '• then known to be in go<.' condition «. far a. the .tore? Thr Kite. •The hive should iH. suited to the size of the cluster. It .hould be cither warmly SwVn»«no '^' i7 "'*"!:'*' ." P'"''^ '" ' ''''""• •"'^ »hould be well ventilated. Th. entrance .hould never be closed, but should be contracted if .ufflciont upward lSin~rJn rr ^.'l."^ ".^^ P™'"™ "^'"*"'"« ^^^^ •^•'•^ cover. leave the M^nco. much larger than thow who have upward ventilation. It i. better to tow the entranro, ,o arranged that mice cannot enter the hive during winter An •tranro not more than % inch wide will make thi, practically ,u« I The Location. V-Jl" ?' ^° 1 ^'^u '^'i'*"'' •^^''•"^ *''^ ""*■•«' "f the average iK-okeeper He k«p. hu bee, where he live.. But for corrmercial beekeeping great car^.hould to S'S^t con^d?'?' " '""'*^- ""'"•• '^^ P'^"'"^^ °' »" abundant hone; flo a iJ??„ K • *'?°"ff»t'°"'.»Pr'ng "ouree. of nectar and pollen play an imiwrtant pTt fa bringing the colonic, up to the main honey flow in the bist of coSon The latitude Joe, not make ,o much difference a, one m-ght think Cornies 0«UrjOM,nly of course the northern bee, require more protection and con,ume A«„M**L**1*''u* wintering the apiary should be dry and sunny, and especially •hoald be sheltered from cold winds. Ifa natural windbreak is not availaS^an ^ .?L J ♦. u- '''i«""«'i /fo™ -^ind,. this way it does not matter very T^itrt ^^ "" 'T- ^*''"^' P"'" " ««"*»^"n «P0«»'<'. but it is largeh- • matter of convenience. In some apiary arrangements, wher^ alternate S ♦fc east and west. This gives every entrance some sun during the day Naturallv the northern entrance is more objectionable than anv other. An apiary fn w£ *ou.. i,.t be disturbed by cattle or other things' travelling aboJt an^ir ring ^tlnt fa.for?-^ "^ """/ r^ "'''''''' "' ''"*«''^^ ii^urhJce is one of the m portant factors ,n successful wintering. Where bees are wintered in a cellar the pUce shou d be kept dry and totally dark. It should be carefully venSaJed to o^tafde Wintered " ! °' ""'""'^ "^^"^"""^^ "PP^''^^ -" ^^ *° -"« ^han to METHODS OF OUTUOOH WINTKHIXU. The elements of iuccc«s in wintiTiiig Ih"*'* have ii..w Ixon oiitlinetl iinl the beekeef r may winter hi« beM in any way ho likes, *o long us he ob>HTveg thi'M? priDciplefc He may winter out of doori or in the fcllur, and >( out of door* ho may place packing around each hive loparately or around up* of to, f,ur, •ix, ei|^t, or any other number that luitii hi« convenience. Many b .. ,Jul -vin- tenn uw the individual case, others pack two in a ca«n, and othem lour in u cate. larger r^nct than tlieic are not recommended as bein;^ loss convenient in many wayi. L. addition to the point* mentioned al»ovo it is important to note that the hive ahould not be moved far from itn nummer stand for pnckin;?. The winter caaes make iufficient change in the appearance of the apiary to cauno the bees enough confuaion when they 1y afterwardi^ tnout also changing the location of their entrance*. The Quadruple Case. The quadruple caie described in the following paragraphs has been foii.id very luccesaful by a number of beekeepers. The fi)ur hives are placed tightly together in one box, two facing east and two west. This box provides for about .1 inches of packing on all sides of the four hives, and 8 or 10 inclies on top. There is no packing between the hives or under them. The stnnd, which j* eight inchea high and made solid, prevents drafts of air underneath. The entrances open out through the sides of the box, so the bees are alwavs nljle to fly when weather permit*. They are packed up as soon ns possible after supers nre off. then fed all the sugar syrup they will take early in October. Pkeparation or Hives. The size of ihe box will depend on the dimensions o_f the hive used. The ten-frame lHT,^troth hive as made in Ontario is ?0 inches long, 16% inches . lu^ and al»..t iH/„ inches CuH'p. The Iwttom-board' is 22>i inches long and 1% ; '.s deep. These arc outside measurements. The spade inside the bottom- board is % inches deep. If the frame-rests in these hives are so arranged that the tops ot the frames are even with the tops of the hives, that is, if the beespace IS underneath the frames, the space between the bottom-bars and the floor of the bottom-board will be about one inch, which is sufficient for wintering. Ifl however, the beespace is above +'.e frames and the bottom-bars come even with the bottom of the brood-chamber the space will bo only % of an inch, and should be increased by tacking half-inch strips on the rim of the bottom-board all around, or by using the wedges which are frequently used to enlarge the entrance for swarm control in summer. The entrance of the hive is left full wi th and this extra depth all winter. The projecting bottom-lward is bridged or by means of a %-inch boa i, gyg inches wide and 16% inches long, laid flat, and extending from one side rim to the other, so as to make a tunnel from the entrance of the hive to the flight hole in the end of the box. After all four hives have been fixed in this way they are ready to put into their box. 8 The Wintebino Box and Stand. The wintering box consists of the floor, two ends, two sides and the roof, all finished with cross cleats, so that each is a separate piece which can be taken down and piled flat with the others when not in use. Seven-eighth inch matched lumber js used throughout. The sides and ends are placed outside the floor to turn the ram, and are supported by the corner cleats which rest endwise on the comers of the floor. The inside dimensions of the box are 241/2 inches deep, 40 inches wide and 451/2 inches long. It has a flat roof projecting 4 inches on all sides and covired with prepared roofing. This box is placed on a stand about 8 or 10 inches high, made of four boards ■% inch by 8 or 10 inches, nailed into a rectangle. The ends are cut 40 inches and the sides 451/2 inches long. They are nailed up with the shorter pieces nailed on the ends of the longer one?, and the outside dimensions of the resulting stand are 40 inches by 4714 FiQ 1.— Side eleTEtion of 4-hlve Wintering Box, side cut away to show construction. wlUi inches. To make the floor of the wintering box, first lay down tiiree pieces, each 2 inches square by 40 inches long; then nail on these yg-inch matdied lumber, cut 45y2 inches long, making the floor 40 inches by 451/2 inches. It wiU be seen that when this floor is laid on the stand it comes just even with it at the sides, but is Ys inch short of it at p-ch end. In other words, the outside lengtn of the stand and of the wintering box are the same, making a smooth surface from the ground up, where the bees have their flight holes, but the stand is made narrower as a con- venient way of supporting the cross cleats of the floor. After the stand, with the floor in place, is levelled up with a apirit level, using scraps of thin lumber under the corners, a board Vs inch by 4 inches by 36 inches is laid flat across the middle of the floor to support the backs of the four hlTes, giving them a tilt forward toward the ends of the box. The four hives are placed' close together with the four corners meeting at the exact centre of the floor. The front ends of the bottom-boards will then come just about to the edges of the floor, and should almost toueli the ends of the box when they are put in place. The wintering box is made 2^1/^ inches deep inside, so the hives can be supered, if necessary, before they are unpacked. As the outside dimensions of the floor are 40 inches by iSy^ inches, these will be the inside dimensions of the box, whose sides and ends must project down over the floor about 2% inches to cover it and its cross supports, and leave no opening between it and the stand. Each side and each end of the box will need an upright at each end of it, 74 inch by 2 inches by 24% inches, and if these are all placed % inch back from the end of the lumber a locked joint will be formed which will not admit dampness. (See Fig. 3.) The sides of the box are 451/2 inches long by 27% inches high. The ends would be 40 inches plus Yg inch at each end to cover the ends of the sides, against which they are clamped or nailed, or 41% inches long by 27% inches high. When these two sides and two ends are made up and placed together, the outside dimensions of the box thus formed will be 41% inches by 47^/4 inches. Fio. 2.— End Elevation of 4-Hlve Wintering Box, showing arrangement of E!ntrances. After the ends are made up the entrance holes should be cut. These must come opposite the hive entrances and should be as deep as the bridge will allow, but ne&d not be the full width. They are placed as far apart as possible to pre- vent bees mixing when they fly. Measuring 6 inches in from each end and 3% inches up from the lower edge of the box-end locates the lower outer corners of the two entrances. The holes are then cut 4 inches long horizontally, and 1^4 inches high. In cold weather each is reduced to a vertical entrance % inch by 1^ inches by means of a piece of thin board 2% inches by 8 inches, fastened with a screw or an ordinary wire nail on which it turns as on a pivot. When closed down it comes % inch short of closing the opening, leaving the % inch by lYz inches vertical entrance. A nail driven just below it prevents its coming 10 t^tVT ?,';• ^^'^'" 't^'^ "P the opening is full size for cleaning out dead bees or for ven .1 tion on hot days in spring or autumn. The vertical entranrL less' hable to clog w.tli dead bees or ice than the horizontal one would be sides ThaTi'M"i'4r'""/' 'f "."j! ''"•^'V'""'^'' '' P'°J«^* ^ '"'^''-^ »« »" Sides Ihat IS It IS 4'J.»4 mehes by ..r,!,. ...ohes, allowing 1/4 inch for nlav ]t 3s made of 7/ >neh lumber, «ith a 4-in..h .-ross piece of thf same matVr a uTeacl end and m the madd e. The n.iddle cross piece should be just 40 inch s long tc^ fit jns.de the box; the end cro.s pieces fitting outside, and forming a tdeseope I.roj.K.tuH. ,„ .nch , cvp. ,.. pr..v..nt .hunpness from drawing in underneath ^ The cover should fit closely ..nou-h t.. exclude mice, but should have openings underneath sufficient for the air to draw through over the packing, and taTe away moisture ar.s.ng from the bees. This cc... U overlaid with prepared ro^Hn"^ Fio. 3.-0utllne of 4-Hive Wintering Box, showing weather-proof joint at corners. Packing the Hives. When the four hives are in place on the floor of the winter box with their entrance bridges adjusted, the sides and ends of the Sx\TuZ and fastened at each comer with three clamps, hooks or wire naUs The brrdges mtist fit cbsely to prevent packing material clogging Entrants. U EokeThr:'"'' f' ""'^'^ "' °" *'^y ^"1 ^'^ °''' quantities of it andTrhaps tf 1 LTr^I^T- ^^^ '"""" ^'°*h« ''^ honey-boards arc next remoT^ and two or three thicknesses of newspaper over that. The packing is then filled of the top. At no time must the material touch the roof. The air must circulate freely over it to prevent dampness collecting. circulate 11 The best packing material is cork chips, which can sometimes be obtained from fruit stores handling Spanish grapes. Forest leaves are excellent, and jdaner shavings or chaff are good ; but sawdust, clover chaff or anything which draws and holds dampness should be avoided. Some use straw, but it is too open and cold unless cut fine. The collapalble wintering box makes hive-lifting for packing and unpacking very The stands shown are In their permanent summer location. The hives in place and three sides of case set np. A feeder-board is shown, also one feeder pail. Single wintering case, with largs •■- trance used in summer. Tkte an- trance is greatly reduced In wbitar. 12 ifer*! Ill FEEDING FOP WINTER. At all times during summer and early autumn cnri> should be taken to see tt^ colonies do not starve. So long as they have enough for daily /ood winter feeding should be delayed until the first half of October. Each hive should then be given all the syrup it will talve. This may be anywhere from 10 pounds to 40 or 50 pounds, depending on the strength of the colony and the amount of stores It already has. The syrup is made of two parts best granulated sugar to one of water. Boil the water, then add the supar and stir till thoroughly dissolved. The only pomU to be observed are to avoid scorching the sugar and to see that no granules are left in the syrup to start crystallization after it has been stored in the combs. The feeder consists of the feeder-board and atmospheric feeders The The four hives have been packed on sides, feeder-boards are In place and 2-quart fruit Jars with syrup inverted over them. In cool weather packing material is filled In amongst the feeders to conserve hive temperature. If this is not done the bees will not Uke the feed. When the jars are empty they are removed. board is made of %-inch lumber cut 16% inches by 20 inches, to fit the hive like a honeyboard. Circular holes 21/2 inches in diameter are made in it for the feeders with key-hole saw or extension bit. When in place there must be a bee- space over the frames. If the liive does not provide this a %-inch rim is nailed to the board. The feeders are two-quart fruit-jars covered with cheese-cloth held on by the ring, or ten-pound lever-cover honey pails, with a number of small, holes panched in the lid.?. When these are filled and inverted over the holes in the feeder-board, atmospheric pressure prevents any leakage, and *1 -; bees take the symp throngh the cloth or perforations and store it in the comk. 18 see ter len 40 res of DO the 'he f When feeding time comes in the early part of October, the packing is removed from over the feeder-boards and a number of filled pails or jars are inverted over the holes. If the days are warm this is done towards evening to prevent robbing, and if the nights are cool packing is put around the feeders to hold the brood- chamber heat and help the bees take down the feed. As fast as feeders are emptied they should be refilled, until the bees signify that they have enough by ceasing all work on the feeders. The latter are then removed, tlo burlap, paper and packing are replaced, and the roof is adjusted for the winter. The feeding may take a week or more in cool weather, but should be gotten through with as rapidly as possible after it is once started. If these directions have been followed carefully the bees will require no further attention until spring. In fact, some extensive beekeepers prepare their bees in a similar manner, then go to the city, and do not see them again till May. It is better, however, to visit the apiary frequently, not to disturb the bees in any way, but to see that no accident has happened, such as fence blowing down, covers ofl, etc. When a warm day occurs towards spring and the bees are flying, the entrance doors should be raised and dead bees raked out with a wire. Snow drifting over the box may do no harm, but uniformly good results are obtained by not allowing it to be higher than the entrances around the box. I CELLAR WINTERING. A few years ago this was the most popular method of wintering bees in northern climates. Most beekeepers in Ontario and in the Northern States considered that ; their bees wintered more successfully in cellars than out doors. Since methods ! similar to that described above for wintering out of doors have been perfected the tendency is all the other way and out-door wintering is being practised success- fully as far north as bees have yet been kept in New Ontario. There are still many, however, who have cellar space under dwellings or in similar places suit- able for wintering bees which can be used at little expense in preference to making up cases for wintering out doors. In general terms the conditions required for successful cellar wintering are: first, total darkness; second, an even temperature, at which tlie bees will remain perfectly quiet. This is usucUy found to be about 40° to 45° F. The cellar can be kept this way most easily when it is nep' -y all underground, as it is then less subject to the outside changes which occur i time to time during the winter. The cellar air should be kept pure by a pi system of ventilation, and should be neither too dry nor too damp. The hives themselves should have good ventila- tion, which may be obtained by removing the summer covers and placing light, porous packing on top, such as a layer of felt, a cushion of chaff, or something of that nature. Many find it an advantage to pry the hives from the bottom-board and block them up with %-inch blocks at the back, allowing a current of air to pass from the entrance across under the cluster and out the back. T';e hives may be piled one above the other on. stands which keep the lowest hive at least one foot above the cellar floor. In fact the best wintering is usually found nearest the ceil- ing of the cellar. 14 The bet", should be carried into the cellar just at f reezing-up tinu'. pr.ferubly the next day after they have had a good cleansing flight. In Sou hern Ontaru, this would be the latter part of November and earlier m the more northern Int.tu.le It is only injurious to bees to leave them on their summer stands dunng frcez.ng weather in the fall, when they are to be placed in a cellar On the othe hand af warm weather occurs after the bees have been carried into he cellar it ., often difficult to keep them quiet. In fact the uncertainty of weather for se t.ng in i. the fall and for carrying out in the spring is one o the chief »'>^^^t «";*" f «; wintering, if one adds to that the fact that t..o cellar requires a ce tain amount o" attenttn in the way of regulating ventilat .rs all winter. Then, -h- the hive, are removed from the cellar in the spring they have to pass through i clement weather without the protection they should have, for they require «>«»t^^- ^ labor and expense for packing up a» they would have required in the fall -f w .ntered OR their suninier stands. %-lnch wide by V/i inches high. Setting Bees Oct of Cellar. Setting bees out of the cellar in spring seems like a small matter; but a mis take made at this time often brings disastrous results. The date, the day and the weather are all subjects for careful choice. There are ^"t=^^^^. P"';7^^^^77 J^ with the behavior of bees which must be considered in setting them out o he cellar. These may be enumerated before discussing the time and manner of the ''^"under the most favorable conditions, bees in winter remain quietl)- clustered on their combs, consuming very little food and rearing no brood. Unfavorable condiUons of temperature' humidity, etc., also improper food, cause uneasiness indicated by a buzzing or humming sound in the cellar, brown stains of dysentery 15 nn hive fronts and an increased death rate of individual bees. The unea.ine.s «i.e h du ter temirature to the brood rearing point, and brood rear. ; adds the sum tlTo "e^ivity. causing incrc.^- consumption of food and increased to ine 8UII1 lo J kers u.c unable to void except in tliglit. Slg of htl b Ul JeUar is prevented by darkne. and a low tempera- ture St tletieh have become diseased by an ovnioad of fa^ca n.atter either develop dysentery nd discharge at the hive entrance or tly out into the dark o Jo a light carried by an observer, never to return to the.r laves. Ih.s fl.ght of individuals is another indication of poor cellar conditions. iCdate of setting out will depend on the condition of the bees and of the season Colon^/wielf contained mostly young bees and good stores the previous autumn wi^ in f an.rable cellar conditions, endure and profit by a longer confine- nieT bin others not so fortunate. In visiting the cellar to judge conditio, s "o kero ene 1 ght should be used on account of the odor, but a sma electric igt or tax cand e When bees are quiet and not showing dysentery, thc^- should be left in nnt?i snow is gone from the yard, and there is something f.jr them to i !?.;in The meltinff of «now can be hastened by shovelling it about when- ^liT^:: tI^u^ViI is to wait, if possible, until soft maple blossoms ''''Vaming bee« out in January or February for a winter flight, then returning them to "e cellar, was tested quite thoroughly some years ago, and condemned aXr practice Where bees cannot be successfully cellar-wintered without this they should be packed and wintered on their summer stands. When the approximate time of setting out has been decided upon, the day and hour must be selected. In making a selection we must take into account the tendency o" bees to become excited when first brought out of the cellar mto day- S This excitement is increased by a restless condition of the bees previous 'to bringhig out, by jarring and delay in carrying, and by the day being very warm. . it nTy bf JedJd by owning doors and windows the previous evening to give L cellar a good cooling off overnight, by handling the hives very carefuUy to avmd disturbance and by selecting a day which is not too warm. It should be noted tiat exc Sve airing of the cellar in spring, while it provides temporary relief, S uTt rately incrLse the uneasiness unless the hives are soon taken out. The fi S of the bees should be accompanied by sunshine, still air, Ma tempera- tu of 50° to 60» F., indicated by a thormoim.tcr hang ng in the shade. Excite- ment causing large numbers of bee. to fly at once, is liaWe to resul in drifting, pa tLlaTlf the wind becomes strong. By "drifting" is mean many bees gSingtto certain hives, making those colonies too populous and depleting the strength of others. , .. This term requires son explanation, ^en a young bee ^r^' ^^'J ^^ hive for the first time in the summer, it will be seen to turn its head ^ward the 1< memory of the home site seema to be subordinated. These are occasions of great excitement, as in swarming or of long confinement, as in winter. In neither of these cases is the memory of the old home site entirely lost; but when first taken out of the cellar they usually orient themselves, as in their first flight as young bees. The impulse to guard the hive against strange bees is also subordinated on both uf these occasions. An additional factor in the return of bees to the hive on such occasions is the " homing' call." Each worker is provided with a small gland located just above the tip of the abdomen. Under the excitement of a first flight or swarming, bees alighting on the entrance of a hive raise the tip of the abdomen, exposing this gland, and fanning with their wings to drive off a scent which attracts others. They also utter a peculiar hum, which has been called the " homing call." Whether it is the scent or the sound which attracts other bees we need not discuss here; but this call causes numbers of bees to alight near the callers and enter thj hive, even though it is not their own. When conditions in the apiary are favorable with warm sunshine, still air and not much excitement of the bees, the call from the various entrances is about the same, and no confusion results. The bees, in flying out, have taken note of the location of their hive, much as on the occasion of their first flight as young bees, and return mostly to their own hives ; but where the excitement is great they do not orient themselves well on going out, and if a strong wind strikes up it drives the " homing call " across the yard, so that bees are called to the windward side and drift in large numbers up against the wind to the hives on the far side. The result of this drifting is a large number of weak colonies, and a few colonies which have more bees than they should have at this season. Under the excitement colonies sometimes swarm out and leave their hives entirely. That bees do not entirely forget the old location of their hives is indicated by the following observation reported by different beekeepers with variations. On the first fiight of bees after the hives are removed from the cellar, it has been noted that numbers of bees sometimes hover about stands which were occupied in the fall, but are now vacant. These are believed to be workers from hives which formerly stood here and now stand elsewhere. It is inferred from this that a general interchange of bees occurs where all stands are reoccupied, but not by their former hives. If this occurs to any extent, and the evidence that it does is fairly conclusive, several dangers are incurred by not getting each hive back on its former stand. An infectious disease existing in a few hives of the apiary is liable to be spread to other hives, queens may possibly be killed by strange bees, and the defence of each hive against robber bees may le reduced by the confusion. It seems important, then, that hives should be carefully returned to their original stands, even though many successful beekeepers do not consider the advantage worth the extra trouble. Another matter of importance is the robbing impulse which must be guarded against until nectar is gathered regularly from fiowers. The impulse to defend the entrance is at a low ebb during the first general fiight and there is danger that bees from hives which have been wintered out of doors, or have been set out pre- viously, will rob the ones which have just been brought out. As far as possible all the hives of one apiary should be carried out on the same day. A few days before setting out it is good practice to go through the cellar, and mark the hives where bees are restless, or where many dead bees are accumulated on the bottom board. As the hives are carried out all light ones should alsu be 17 marked. The perceniage of luch abnormal colonic* in a well-regulated cellar will be imall, and, after they are let out, only these need be disturlK-d by changing bottom boarda, giving feed, or examining for queen condition. The danger of robbing and exposure to told in giving immediate attention to tlio apiary will tluis be greatly reduced. • , . As the flight of bees is very subject to temperature, lipht and wind, the weatlier for setting out must be careful' considered. In fact, the beekeeper needs to be a student of the weather at all times, also of the daily reports of the Weather Bureau. One of the best means of forecasting the weather is to study sunset-. It is not easy to describe Oie sunset which forecasts a bright or stormy day: but. by taking note of the general appearance of the evening sky and noting tlie sort of day which follows it, one soon becomes a ratlicr good weather prophet. s^il -NT^'"'*- ** -^^^^^^■^•••' Blrdseye view of O.A.C. Apiary In summer. Note hives In backKrojinf »«" '^./'"J* cases. Some consider summer packing a factor In swarm control. Supers are added within the case. The usual time for taking bees out is the eveninc before or the morning of the day which p-omises to be fine and still, but not too hot. When such a day is expected the doors and windows are opened at sunset to cool the cellar. Ihe hives may at once be placed on their stands by moonlight, or in the early morn- ing, while th3 air is still frosty. If the day fulfils the beekeeper's expectation i will be still, bright and moderately warm, about 60° to 70= F. The bees will have a splendid flight, and everything will go well. ., , x, Unfortunately, however, spring weather is uncertain, and if, when tl.e air is full of flying bees, the sky becomes overcast and the temperature begins to drop and a stiff breeze strikes up, much drifting will result and many liees may be blown on the ground to chill and die. In small aiiaries this changer is reduced to a minimum, but where there are many colonies it is safer to select a time when indications are for dull weather for two or three days. Then, at sunset start carrying out the hives and continue until they are placed on their summer stands, even if it takes until after midnight. 'I 18 In either cue the ontrence* ihould he contracted to from one to four inchw, according to the itrength of the colony, coveri properly tdjutUu, combe of honey giren to coloniei which «re light, bottom board* whioh are much dirty changed, and other euch adjuttmente made at once. By morning the beee will have been quietly cluttered and will not leave the hivei to any extent until the weather warms up and favorable flying conditioni prevail. Thia u*ually oomea gradually and prevent* the excitement and drifting which occur under the unfavorable con- ditions previously described. No particular ceremony is needed in carrying hives out, particularly at night. TJe only precaution is to work quickly and avoid disturbance as far as possible. Do not allow unnecessary light in the cellar, and do not jar the hives. If there are many hives there should be two or three persons to carry. Let each man pick up a hive in his arms in a comfortable position, carry it gently and quickly to .its. stand, set it down and come back for another. If the carrying out is beinf done in daylight, it is best for one to attend to the cellar door, standing right there to open and close as the others pass in and out, thus avoiding unnecessary light and duturbance in the cellar. Even then if the morning is inclined to be warm, the beee in the cellar may become restless, and in that ca^ie the door should be left closed for some time after every period of fifteen or twenty minutes carrying out, while the bees in the cellar become quiet and the operators are adjusting entrances, covers, etc., on the hives which are out. In case cellar conditions have been very unfavorable, so that these ordinary precautions will not keep the bees from flying from the hives or coming out to sting the operator while they are being carried out, the entrances can be closed with a cloth, wet with cold water, and some smoke blown into the hive to quiet the bees. This rse of a wet entrance closer and smoker is advised also for timid persons; but under normal conditions of bees and beekeeperb is quite unnecessary. Itis well known that bees, in their first flight, discharge the feces which has been retamed m the intestines during the' winter, and care should be taken that nothing in the way of clothing or the like be left exposed in the apiary or neigh- borhood. It is very annoying to a neighbor who has put out a fresh washing on the Ime to have it stained by the droppings of bees, so as to make rewashing necessary. Where there are near neighbors they should be warned of this danger. It has been one of the most serious causes of trouble between beekeepers and their neighbors. In conclusion, I would emphasize the importance of favorable cellar con- ditions for wintering, then leaving the hives -n just about as long as the bees can be kept quxct or until near the opening of soft maple bloom. Then, in carrying out, distarb them as little as possible, pack them up snug and warm, see that they have sufficient stores and let them alone for some time. Spring Photectiox of Cellar-Wintehed Bees. Once upon a time there were two farmers living side by side. Both had equally large farms, -H-ith heavy crops of grain. The one had an adequate staff of har- vesters ready when the grain began to ripen, and saved his whole crop. The other did not thmk much about securing help until the first field was ready to cut. Then he began scurrying about getting a man ' ,i-e and another there; so that by the time the last field was harvested and most of the early grain had spoiled in the field, he was boarding a full gang of harvesters who were no longer needed. 19 4 Anothor tune there were two bcekecperi, eadi in a gooil location. The one took good care of his beci and had the hive* full to overflowing with workers when the honey flow ktartcd. At the end of the season he had a large crop. The other neglected his l»ees. and the spring weather being unfavorable, they were just about as weak on the 10th of June as they had been in April. Of course they built up during the honey flow and were in good shape for winter that fall; but another season's crop l>ad been lost, owing to lack of proper care at the right time. There arc several things that have to be taken into account in the spring management of bees. They may "spring" poorly beoouse they have wintered poorly, leaving the hive with only a few bees of weak constitution. The hive may be in an exposed place, where persistent winds keep the inside temperature down .' ' comp«>l tlie nurse bees to huddle together, thus restricting the size of the broc J nest; or tlic cover of the hive may ' o thin and open, allowing the heat to pass up A commercial apiary wintering In quadruple case«. Note windbreak made of lath nailed on frames 6 feet by 8 feet. These may be removed and sUcked \a summer, and are easily transported In case of moving an apiary. and out. On the other hand, the brood-rhamber may be crowded with old honey, depriving the queen of laying space, or feed may be so scarce that the bees have a job to keep themselves, let alone feeding the brood. They may have a poor queen. Any or all of these conditions are liable to prevail, an.l cause the beekeeper heavy loss where he goes entirely on the " let alone " plan. The queen condition of the colony should be watched dnrin? summer, and although queens brought from the South can be introduced in April or ^fa;. it is much better to have a good queen in the hive to start rearing brood earlier than that. Stores sufficient for winter and spring should be given in the fall, but can be given in spring if necessary. It is *-^quently stated that the life of the worker bee is anywhere from six weeks ' -nths, depending on the amount of work that it does. Bees do not baild ap itrcngth and inertMc thtir powtn of •ndnranet by hMlthfnl food and •serciae at animal* do, but each bae arrivM in thia world inppliad with about the amount of energy it will expend daring ita life-time. We hare compared beet to amall, dry cell batteriea, with Joat ao mnch energy itored. Thia energy can be aaved by baring ideal conditiona in the hire; bnt where conditiona are not ideal for brood-rearing, the worker beea moat improre them br an ezpenditnre of energy which ahortena their own lirea. The temperature at irhich a broodleaa colony remain! qniatly cluttered ia about S7* F. When the outaide temperature dropt below that, u it doea on froaty nighta, heat muit be generated by the beee them- aelvee within the hire. The temperature at which brood ia reared it between 93° and 95" F. It will be leen that on a froity night thii ii at leaat 60* F. above the temperature of the atmoaphere outaide the hire. The heat neceeaary for main- taining thja temperature ia generated by the muacular actirity of the worker beet, and ia the mult of a conanmption of food. In other worda, the hira might be compared to a dwelling-houte, and the colony of beet to the furnace. With this compariton in mind it ia eaay to underttand why a hire needa t9 be warmly pro- tected, eapecially in tpring during the time that brood it being reared, and when wa conaider how difficult it ia to heat the honae on a windy day, the importance of sheltering hivea from the wind will be erideni But beea do not attempt to heat the wlwle interior of the hiro to the brood-mring temperature. A spherical cluster ia formed of beea, not doaely crowded within the duater, but forming a very compact ahell by the beea on the outside crowding closely together in such a way that their bodiea form a non-conduct^'n^ turf ace to the sphere. When the difference in tekiperatnre between the inriiie a^id outside of ihj cluster it great, more beea are required to form the non-conducting s! '., and the diameter of the sphere must be accordingly reduced. Whert the walls and ceiling of the hive are non-conducting, retaining heat which escapes from the cluster, the difference in temperature ia reduced, and the sphere can be accordingly enlarged. The quantity of brood which can be eared for at any one time dependa entirely ou the size of thia sphere, and the size of the sphere depends on three things : the popu- lation of the hive, the temperature outside the hive, and the extent to whioh the hire itaelf ret&ini the clutter heat. It it the last with which we have to deal in this chapter, and it doea not seem that further explanation is necessary to show the importance of having the hire warmly protected and sheltered from cold winds during the spring building-up period. The method of applying these principles is a matter of detail, which any beekeeper will work out for himself once he fully realizes the importance of hav- ing colonies warmly protected and bheltered from cold winds during the spring building-up period. Beet wintered out of doors should not be unpacked before settled warm weather — the latter part of May or early in June. Some are never unpacked. If wintered in the cellar they should receive protection and shelter when they are brought out. The apiary should not be a windy site at any time. The shelter of evergreens or buildings is very desirable. If such shelter is not available, it is ^sdvi'abie to erect an 8 foot board or lattice fence, placing the boards fairly close together. Where colonies are quite strong and the hives are sound with good, tight, warm covers, the shelter from the wind may be sufficient, pro- vided the entrances are contracted to about one or two inches by three-eighths of an inch. Single board covera are not sufficient. In fact I do not consider them satisfactory at any time. There should be some warmer material, such as cork, felt or shavings in the cover. One beekeeptT dewrilie* hi* im-tlMMl .»f im.kiitjf. »Uet tMkinjr out »f tlie (vlUr, •omewlMt M follow*: ' p puU il.«ff or »tr«w »ii tin- gnmu\ for tli.' hivo* t> i-;. on to kwp the Uittom dry tnd wtrm. »«wilu*t .ui.liion* on top, .traw pile., vp •round the fiden •n.l iMnk*. InmioU Ii'«m.mI aKainut the An* to lioUl it in pirn*, •nd Urge telwcoping i-ovent plw-wl omt .'aih hivf. If miy loloiiy i* wi-ak and doe« not tjver the requinnl nundn-r of .■onilw wlitMi wt out. Im' ri'inove* hikh. upiwl ronilN., crowding the b«fi to the «de of the hive with a .liu-ion hmn\, putting naeking in l^hind the divi.ion li.wr.1. Tlio Ikhm. a.v left with tlii* iw.kiiiK arouiul them until they are strong enough to lufd rmnn nml vi-iitilation. A bwkeeper writing from Northern Ontario. ha>t a .-..llaimild.- winter caxe. which he put* on eaeh hive. |«(king with two or thrw in.h.'- of Mhuving* on Miden and top, praetieally giving thi' w>lony a» inueii prote "!« "^fj^ UmukL feeding, unless very unfavorable weather comes between frmt bloom Inrthe open ng ot clover; but the man who takes it for granted that because he ?ed his cobnies in the fall until all had a certain quant.ty they will need no feed- ng in the spring, may meet with great losses. It is just another dlus ration of hf act that a man's success does not depend on the amount of manual labor he dts but on the amount of skill and carefulness with which that lalK,r is performed. Ontario ABrlcuItural College Apiary In Winter. .a CONCLUSION. Bees may be wintered successfully in any part of 0 ario either m cellars or out of doors. ■ Where the .ellar has given good results its use may well be continued, but the beginner is advised to pack his bees on summer stands Beekleping requires less financial investment than other branches of agricul- ture tcom^ariso^ with the returns. Expense should, therefore, not be spared '^ T^^;i^t"wi:;:rtr:;::r^M l.gin eany in the honey jas^ by Jkng after the queen condition of each colony during the honey flow Ampl Ml f2g to avoid all chances of starvation in winter or spring, wdl be well ''^' Usually spring feeding is better done in autumn. Where a large number of colons are' win ef packed' however, it will do no harm and w-ill usually be bene- fiJ:»l to Zcl a ten pound feeder of svrup on each colony in the packing case in S TMs cL don by means of thi feeder-boards and style of packmg case Shed ^ths bulletin, without losing any of the cluster heat. The bees should thn be disturbed as little as possible until queen clipping time in May.