Already the reports of fearful losses are coming in thick and fast.
Every severe winter the story is the same. Now the question arises,
are these losses of bees inevitable every cold winter? If so then our
business as bee-keepers is still a mere matter of luck.
During the last few years of mild winters the out-door wintering men
have had things about their own way in our bee-papers. Now, are these
papers not a little to blame for admitting articles to their columns
giving bad advice to the inexperienced? Many have advocated the
wintering on summer stands without protection or care, and persistently
claim to be masters in bee-keeping. I am perfectly willing to admit
that bees can be wintered very nicely on summer stands in a mild
winter, also that they are wintered successfully if well packed in
chaff in a cold winter; but I claim that the labor of preparing them is
more than double that of cellar wintering.
I contend that the only certain way is to prepare a suitable place
especially for the bees. If a cellar, have the floor cemented and see
that it is dry, dark, and well ventilated. In such a place they will
not consume more than half the amount of honey they would if left out
“packed” in the most approved style. This being a fact they have no
particular occasion for a flight. I know that the out-door men claim
that cellar-wintered bees do not breed early and are liable to “spring
dwindle.” I hardly know what spring dwindling is. By good spring
management I have never failed to have my hives crowded as soon as
there is anything for the bees to do. Then what is to be gained by
having the queen expend her energies and raising vast broods of bees
in February to be ready to die when the blossoms come? But sometimes
failure comes even in the best of cellars; but would they have fared
any better out of doors? Nine times in 10 the cause can be traced to
bees filling their hives from the refuse of cider mills. How to keep
them from storing such stuff is one of the great problems to be solved.
It is not to be supposed that any kind of a hole under a house will
do to winter bees. I have known bees to be packed away among onions,
cabbage, and sour kraut. In the spring they wonder what made their bees
die. Perhaps they were fastened by wire cloth so that the light could
be let in and the bees could not “get out you know.” That such must
fail is apparent.
I do not find fault with those who prefer to pack in chaff and winter
out of doors; I cannot see, however, that it is the best way.
It will be the “survival of the fittest” this winter, sure. The box
hive men and careless bee-keepers will go out of the business. It is
the golden opportunity for the bee-keeper of the future. Soon the
fields will be white with the harvest, but the laborers will be few.
The bees will have less competition in the fields and the honey in the
market.
Milan, Ill.
[Are the papers reprehensible for giving place to candid and
respectful arguments, whether based upon tenable or doubtful
theories, intended to advance and simplify a science of
such magnitude as the bee-keeping interest? Differences of
opinion (and honest ones, too,) exist in almost all leading
pursuits, and frequently, although seemingly contradicting
each other, lead to successful results: again, as has been
frequently demonstrated during the past winter, practices
embracing all the most approved theories, have alike proved
disastrous. There are so many favorable contingencies to be
provided, that theories are powerless to insure success. It
is interesting, as well as mystifying, to glance through our
correspondence from week to week, and note the different
methods of preparing bees for winter, and the disasters
attending all the different styles. Nor are the cellars
exempt from heavy losses, even where success has been
proverbial heretofore: The truth is, the winter has been an
exceptional one, and loss or success with a single or a few
individuals, will neither establish nor disprove theoretical
assertions; nor will it justify the “I told you so” class,
because successful, in arrogating to themselves all of human
wisdom.—ED.]
* * * * *
☞ The North Western Wisconsin Bee-keepers Association will meet at
Germania Hall, LaCrosse, Wis., on Tuesday, May 10, at 10 a.m. All
interested in bee-keeping are requested to be present.