Thibodaux, La., Feb. 10, 1881.
[Mr. Winder enclosed us some white clover blossoms of this year's
growth. The sight of the modest flowers is refreshing, while from our
office windows the earth looks bleak and gloomy with its deep mantle
of snow.—ED.]
=Gone back on him.=—I had 30 colonies of bees—most of them
Italians—last fall, in Langstroth hives, packed in this way:
The ends of my hives are double-walled, and the sides are
made double in winter by the use of division boards, in place
of 2 frames, leaving but 8 frames. I then use a crate made of
laths, which sets down around the hive so is to leave a space
of about 8 inches for packing between it and the hive on the
sides and back end. This space I fill with a packing of fine
straw and leaves mixed, and packed hard when just a little
damp. Then strips of board are fitted so as to protect the
top of the straw from rain or snow; next a blanket over the
frames and 6 inches of chaff over that, protected by the cap,
in which are openings, so as to give free circulation of air
above the chaff. The entrance is kept open enough for a good
supply of air. In this way I have heretofore had good success
in wintering on summer stands; but this winter it has gone
back on me. Until last Saturday, the 5th inst., there has
been no day warm enough for bees to fly for some months. Many
did come out, even on the coldest days, but of course could
live but a few moments out of the hive. I let them entirely
alone, except to see that the entrances were free, until day
before yesterday, when it was warm enough for bees to fly. I
looked them over and found only twelve of them alive; only 4
of these are in good condition, the others are weak and the
hives a good deal soiled. Now, what puzzles me is this. They
were all, apparently, very nearly alike last October, and now
4 of them are in perfect condition while all the others were
bad. Now, why the four exceptions out of 30? I am glad for
them, but would like to understand the reason. Can you tell
us, Mr. Editor? They have evidently not been cold, and have
had plenty of honey. In the dead ones I have examined I find
brood in a hatching state, with half or more of the cells
empty, indicating that young bees had hatched. I attribute
the disaster to long confinement, but why the 4 exceptions?
I say amen to all the compliments you publish from your
subscribers for the BEE JOURNAL.