Jefferson, Wis., March 3, 1881.
It was with much pleasure we noticed, in last Thursday's Associated
Press dispatches, evidences of Prof. Vennor's reformation. He
undoubtedly has become convinced that the realization of the eleven
feet of snow attributed to his prophecies, would not only cause much
suffering and privation with the majority of humanity, but work
serious and permanent injury to the country itself. He has relented,
or probably been bribed by Mr. McColm's liberal offer in the BEE
JOURNAL of March 2, page 69, and now promises us better weather
in the future. His latest prediction is a reasonably early, warm, dry
spring, cool, pleasant summer, and late, dry fall, followed by a mild
and pleasant winter. Of course, he promises abundant crops, and a
satisfactory and remunerative harvest.
But without any further reference to Prof. Vennor, and without laying
any claim to the “spirit of prophecy,” we believe the coming season
will be a very satisfactory one to those bee-keepers who may be
prepared to profit by it, and who have the industry and intelligence
to make the most of it. The winter of 1879-80 was very mild and open,
the scarcity of snow left the earth's surface exposed alike to the
freezing temperature of night, and the pleasant sunshine of the balmy
days; spring-like showers were of frequent occurrence, and heavy rains
accompanied with thunder were so numerous that they ceased to create
surprise; while the weird spring-music of the frogs was a familiar
sound every month, and nearly every week, throughout the winter. The
alternating cold and heat “threw out” the roots of the perennial
plants, breaking off the long, deep-reaching taps and killing the
rootlets; hence the frequent expression, “but little white clover in
bloom, and no honey in the blossoms.” The honey-producing annuals have
done but little better, owing, we presume, to the germination of the
seeds in mid-winter, and the frequent frosting of the tender sprouts
before spring set in. Thus, the summer and fall bloom was limited,
and no provision having been made to supply the short-comings of
nature, bees entered upon an unprecedented winter with a poor supply
of good—or a good supply of poor—honey. The many empty hives in the
country this spring is the result.
The past winter, whatever else may be said of it, has been propitious
for the honey plants. Cool weather in this latitude set in during
October; vegetation was checked in the perennials and biennials; the
ground was frozen in November, and it was overspread with a mantle of
snow quite early in the season, which has constantly held the roots of
the perennials in position, and prevented the seeds of the annuals from
unseasonable germination. The stand of white clover last fall was good,
and mostly of quite recent growth, which should bloom profusely this
season, and will only need heat and favorable sunshine to develop the
nectar. The causes enumerated will also tend to confine the vitality
of the linden trees to the roots, to be drawn out in profuse foliage
and bloom by the genial rays of the summer sun. The numerous variety of
flowers we believe will gratify the eye of every lover of the beautiful
in nature, and well reward the labors of the painstaking bee-keeper.
That the price of honey will be remunerative next fall no one can
doubt, in view of the lessened competition, owing to the heavy losses
the past winter and the many who will utilize the bees they have left
to refilling their empty hives.
It would take more space than we can give a single article, to explain
why we have much confidence in Prof. Vennor's latest prediction,
referred to above—though perhaps “the wish is father to the thought.”
We feel confident many of our readers will cordially unite with us in
welcoming the better time coming.
Migratory Bee-Keeping.
Why do not the enterprising bee-keepers of these parts go
South with their bees, and wait till the March “blizzards”
are over? Seems to me the bees and honey saved would about
pay the expenses of the trip. How much does a colony need
in those parts to winter on? Would there be any prospect
of obtaining any surplus down there before the season
opens here? These and a dozen other questions I am vainly
speculating upon. Are Messrs. Bingham and Perrine the only
ones that have tried the migratory plan? I believe neither
of them was successful; at any rate, they have abandoned it.
Probably they could not give it the necessary attention.
The loss of larvæ in shipping seems but trifling compared
to the gain in young bees. Considerable damage may be done
by combs breaking down, but wired frames would obviate that
difficulty. Is not wired foundation (wired in frames) the
only kind that can be depended on under all circumstances?
You report in the October number, 1880, page 468, that the
Northwestern Convention disapproved of wired foundation.
There were but few present that had given wired foundation a
fair trial, and if I am not mistaken, they were strongly in
favor of it.