The Small Beekeeper’s Journal (300 Hickory St., Apple River, IL 61001, $12.95 per year) reprinted in their November, 2000 issue a reprint from the October, 1945 issue of Gleanings in Bee Culture. This was an article by E.R. Root entitled “Eighty Years Among the Bees” which covered a most extraordinary account of overwintering bees. I have extracted the following, editing for brevity. Dan Hendricks “I have been rereading Langstroth’s original book of 1853-57, and I must say that I am amazed how that genius who invented the moveable frame was in line with present day trends in the thinking and pratices on the subject of winterlng. . . . On the subject of dampness which we consider so harmful to good wintering, he says in the first edition of his book of 1853. ‘This dampness, which causes what may be called a rot among the bees, is one of the worst enemies with which the apiarian weakns or destroys many of his best colonies. . . . They will survive our coldest winters in thin (*he means single thickness of wood*) hives raised on blocks to give a fteer admission of air, or even in suspendced hives, without any bottom board at all. Indeed, in cold weather a very free admission of air is necessasry in such hives to prevent the otherwise ruinous effect of frozen moisture; and hence the common remark that bees require as much or more air in winter than in summer.’ . . . ‘Today (Jan. 14, 1857), I have opened three hives and carefully examinead the combs, and find their condition to be as follows: (No. l) a good stock of bees in a thin hive with abundant upward ventilation, the spare honey board (*I think he means what we would call an inner cover*) being entirely removed. In the main hive there was a very little frost (the thermometer this morning being 10 degrees below zero), and the bees were dry and lively. The central combs containing eggs and unsealead worms.” (*I’m not making this up*) . . . ‘Bees kept in large garret closets where their combs occupy but a small part of the enclosed space are exposed often to a very severe temperature. In such situations, however, they are able to breed in the depth of winter, and I believe that they would thrive, even if their combs were hung in an open shed and merely protected from the wind. I would sooner risk them in such a situation than in a damp hive however well protected. ‘January 20, 1857: This month, the coldest on record for more than 50 years, had furnished the most decisive proof of the correctness of the views advancsed in this Appendix on wintering bees in the open air. My colonies have been exposed to a temperature of 30 degrees below zero, the mercury for two days never having risen above 6 degrees below, and the wind blowing a strong gale the whole time! ‘I have today carefully examined the thin hive and found the bees to be very healthy. The central comb is almost entirely filled with sealed brood nearly mature; the combs are far from any appearance of mold, and the interior of the hive is very dry. The spare honey board was covered on its under sie4 with straw waapping papear, and elevated by tacks on its corners about half an inch. In all my hives where I have adopeted this arranglement not a particle of dampness is found to settle over the bees. The value of intercommunicating passages through the combs has this winter been most fully tested; and its importance can hardly be overestimated.’” __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/