=Wintered Without Loss.=—I have kept bees for 7 years and my greatest trouble has been wintering them, but I think I have that perfect now. I winter on summer stands packed in chaff. Last fall I had 72 colonies, and on Feb. 9 all were right. I think I shall have to feed them. Last fall some had 15 lbs. and others 25 lbs of honey; that is if bees and comb weighed 10 lbs. The combs were all new, and it may be that 10 lbs. was allowing too much.
=Mourning for the Bees.=—It is lamentable to hear the reports throughout this country. Some have lost all; others all but 1 or 2. I think about four-fifths of the bees are dead through this country; as nearly all left their bees unprotected, they had to suffer losses. But I think the present winter will in part decide the best methods of wintering. I started last spring with 4 colonies, increased to 6, but obtained no surplus. In Sept. I bought 2 Italian colonies which are doing well. I packed 2 in chaff and 6 I put into the cellar, but 2 of these died, 1 starved, and the other had the dysentery. Those packed in chaff had a good flight on Feb. 26. Those in the cellar had no flight since Nov. 1. The weather is now breaking up, the snow has nearly all gone, and the roads are muddy. I am highly pleased with the Weekly BEE JOURNAL. I could not be persuaded to do without it.
=Wintering.=—My experience of over 25 years in trying all modes of wintering is as follows: On summer stands, and in the cellar for 10 years; I then built a house to winter in, used that 2 years and then abandoned it. The last 3 years I have been using the chaff hive and winter on summer stands, with the least loss of any way I have tried. My bees had a splendid fly on the 11th, it being the first chance for them since the 8th of Nov. I think they will go through all right now unless we have a very late spring. I prepared 148 colonies for winter, (123 in chaff hives and 25 in the common box hive.) I have lost but one in chaff hive yet, and 10 in the box hive already, and doubt if one-half of what are left will see the middle of April. I wish to congratulate our editor on the success of the BEE JOURNAL. I have received it regular since assuming its new form, and think it just splendid, and if I had but 1 colony of bees I would try to take the Weekly BEE JOURNAL to aid me to make a success of that 1. I hope the editor may be liberally supported by the bee-keepers of America, for I believe with his experience and that of his able contributors, he can give us a paper that we cannot afford to do without.