North East, Pa., March 15, 1881.
=Bees Confined 4½ Months.=—This has been the severest winter that I
can remember. My 27 colonies of bees have not had a flight since Nov.
1. They are in a cellar; one of my neighbors had over 50 colonies,
but there are only 5 left. He tried to winter out of doors, but has
put what he had left in a cider mill. Another had over 20 colonies,
wintered out of doors and lost all. I have but little hopes of having
over 6 or 8 colonies; there is but little hopes of having weather that
bees can have a flight for 2 weeks yet. We are in a snow blockade yet.
We have had but one mail in over 2 weeks. I like the Weekly better each
number; it brings us nearer together and we can sympathize with our
bee-keeping friends. Let us hope for the best; there are better times
coming. Success to the Weekly.