Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1881 — Naval Plan for Wintering Bees. [ARTICLE]

Naval Plan for Wintering Bees.

H, W. QarrwU. In JUwrlcaa Bm Journal Choose any soil Umt is a little descending and not iinder water in the ‘spring. Plow- wHIVa <-orii plow stir- - rows the width of the hives, as long wtwa as.you -need. Throw, out the earth ou both aides, making the ditch or trench four or five inches deep, exoept the*lower'*eu'd, * which Will be hear ly ok the surface. - Put any kind of boards in the bottom of Die trench, then fill the trench wjth long rye straw. Place it as you would to thatch, commencing at the deep end Of the trench. Place 3x4. or 3x3 joists on the straw the outside of the rench. Now place the hives on the joists, close together, with caps removed, also the honey-board* Or 1 canvas, aud-phme cotton quilts or mats over frames. Place Ibehiugudraw on the top, commencing at the lower end, Tour dr five lufches Thick, letting the strvw project over the end strives two foet> Stand straw «n the butt epd qgaijist the hives, on each aide and ends, four or five inches thick. Now place hoards ten or twelve inches wide slanting against tlie straw-and hives t>u both sides. To form roof, nail together boards ten or twelve feet foug, tfyg width of the hives, thus: Bend the straw standing upright over thetop nf the hires 1 and this roof holds U dowu and leaves a * space ov *Ly‘® fmmea on the top filletkas well aS al tbe bottom of the hives. If the row OF hives requires more than awe length of roofr where they come togeUier, pud out some of Hie straw that dies ou top of the frames, fight and left, about four inches in'diameter. Bind this and then crowd the roofs together as close as the straw will admit. Bind the straw to a cone pt to tte uozzje of p Binglam smoker. Place short pieces of boards slanting at the ends of the hives under the ends of the roof and atraw-that lies, ou top of the frames. Cover the, whole with earth from three inches at ridge to four or six inches at base. • Now, we have a mound, say forty feet long, with tlie - itraw and boards of the bottom pro- , ecting some two.Jeet beyond to carry 1 iff any “water that may collect, and at top of ridge three perpedicular stfraw ventilators, and a horizontal one at each end. By the earth being removed from each side to cover the bees, the trench utadgr the bees wiH be the highest, and to keep it dry plow a furrow to drain off any water that may collect. Thus they remain quiet, not being disturbed or affected by the heat or cold until the maples look red or they can fin’d pollen; then remove them at night in their summer stands. This mode pf wintering is no new thing. It has been tried successfully in thiZ locality for a number of yfears. The most of our hives hive loose ,bot--toms, so th£t the bees come in contact witji Lhe straw under them. I formerly wintered in the cellar. If I have choicfe feolonles and want to kill them, without brimstone I put them there, andjiwhen opportunity offers carry ,^ c l¥. 4 >ut fora fly an d returm them CTich time many bees less. Being confftff'd ahd more or less.disturbed; they heeomo uueasy, a(id when they are put do the summer stands they are weak, exhausted, and soon by the first of Jiine they are all gone. 1 have be«l tagging in and out all the w*»te»-mid.gained my object, but, by the jwpy cd excuse, term it “spring winding.” y .