Waverly, Iowa, March 11, 1881.
=Lost 8 out of 37 in Wintering.=—I put 37 colonies into winter
quarters, all in good condition except 4 or 5 small late swarms, and as
it was a poor season for honey, they did not fill up; 29 were packed
under a shed, open to the south and east. Before packing I removed the
outside frames and put in cushions made by covering empty frames with
sacking and filling with chaff; also 2 inches of the same on the top
of the racks. My loss to date is 3. I prepared 5 in the same manner,
but left them on the summer stands; lost 4. Two that I was sure would
starve if not fed, I removed to a room over another where a fire is
kept, placed them at a window and arranged a passage leading outside;
then, with wire cloth over the frames, I can feed and examine without
their flying out. They are all right. One I left on the summer stand
with a set of section boxes, unprotected, and it is very strong. On
March 9th my bees had their first good flight since Oct. 25. I had one
colony in a box-hive; of course they are dead. Total loss to date, 8
out of 37. Nearly all are strong now. I am with the majority when I say
that the Weekly BEE JOURNAL is a decided improvement. Success to it.