It will be observed that we have among our advertisements, one of the
Finn Bee Hive. In receiving this, we feel it a duty to state frankly our
opinion of the matter, and then if the parties think we should, we will
cheerfully return the $1.00 they have paid us for this one insertion. Of
course what we say here must only be taken for our own opinion, and in
the matter of selling rights we may have been unduly severe. In matters
of this kind it is a very safe rule to ask ourselves if we are honestly
doing as we would be done by.
If Messrs Keyes & Finn made hives for sale such as they advise and sold
them for a fair price, there could certainly be no wrong, for very many
bee-keepers of late stoutly affirm that bees do winter safely in hives
well protected, on their summer stands, while those side by side, not so
protected, perish. In order to show both sides of the question, we give
the following:
They are stowed away in boxes parked with straw. Kept good in that
way winter of ’72 and ’73, all that were packed early. Those that
were packed in Jan. of same winter died, though stronger in bees and
honey.
W. S. LUNT, Fostoria, O. Jan. 5th, 1875.
* * * * *
At present, Feb. 10th, 38° below zero. I put 28 hives in the cellar
and have lost one. They are too cold, temperature varies from 29 to
34°. I would prefer 42° as nearly as possible to keep them. I put up
20 in rough boxes on summer stands, boxes six inches larger than
hives, filled in with shavings. I have wintered so two years and
never lost any. They seem in fine condition but it is quite
expensive—cost me $15.00 to put up the twenty hives but think it
pays well. Would like to have them all put up in the same way. One
of my neighbors had three stocks in box hives and has lost them all,
think the loss will be quite severe in this vicinity.
LEWIS KELLY, Smyrnia, Ionia Co., Mich.
* * * * *
Having had the pleasure of a visit to the Apiary of J. S. Hill &
Sons, near Mt. Pleasant, I will, with your permission, Mr. Editor,
say a few words in regard to it. Any one entering their bee yard can
see at first glance that there is the best of order, system and
management. It contains 85 large Langstroth hives completely storm
and weather proof, adapted alike to the storms and zero cold of
winter, and the broiling sun of July and August. Perfect ventilation
with no possible chance of a draft of cold air on the bees, and no
danger of moisture of frost in the hive to give the bees the
dysentery.
Mr. Hill having years ago been convinced that cellar wintering would
not do in our changeable climate, has given a great deal of thought,
time and attention to the business of out-door wintering; that he
has made it a success, is proven by the fact that his loss in the
past four or five years, has been very light, in fact scarcely any
loss at all; while others all around him lost heavily. He manages to
get them through winter, strong in numbers and is not troubled with
colonies dwindling down in spring and deserting their hives, as did
so many the past two years where they had been wintered in cellars
and other repositories. Mr. Hill is a firm believer in strong
stocks—in keeping them strong the year round—takes the position that
the only sure way to have strong colonies in early spring, is to see
to it that they are strong in the fall. His location is not nearly
as good for honey as many others, yet the amount he takes yearly
would satisfy many of us who are in more favored localities; his
only dependance for surplus, is white clover, having no poplar,
linden, or buckwheat, consequently the honey season is rather short,
ending by July 1st. The hive used by Mr. Hill is, of course, not a
dollar hive, and would perhaps be thought, by some bee-keepers, to
be entirely too expensive, but all things considered I believe it to
be the cheapest for out-door wintering.