ENTRANCES TO HIVES. 



15G 



ENTRANCES TO HIVES. 



If it is discdvered that the colony is weak, 

 the slot should be reduced to one inch in 

 width. At the same time, the frames should 

 be contracted to the number that tiie bees 



ing to the way they are attached. AVheu the 

 cleats are removed entirely the full opening 

 of the hive is given. 





can reasonal)]y occu])y or cover. If they are 

 compelled to keep a large room warm, mudi 

 above their present needs, they may die 

 from c Id. 



^'^^^^an^. 



If a cool or cold spell suddenly comes on in 

 the spring after a stretch of warm weather, 

 during which the bees have a large amount 

 of >oung brood s'arted, some of the brood is 

 liable to be lost unless the cnlr;'nce is '• u- 



'^y>7a£\ 



The illustrations show veiy simple cleats 

 which can be made at any planing-mill, or 

 (an be cut at home, using nothing but a 

 common hand-saw and a chisel. These 

 cleats give various-sized entiauces accord- 



*ALIGHTING-BOAKD G rUOrElM.Y i'l A( KD. 



tracted or closed temporarily. W. L. Cogg- 

 shal', of West tiroton,N. Y.,the most ex- 

 tensive bee-keeper in the world, owning 

 somewhat over 3000 colonies, recommends 

 closing the entrances at such times with a 

 handful of sawdust. This he carries around 

 in a pail; and as he walks up and down the 

 row s of hives he throws a handfid here and 

 a liandful there in front of each hive. The 

 hea[ ed-up sawdust confines the heat of the 

 cluster, thus making it possible to save bees 

 and brood. When it warms up, the bees 

 will push the loose dust away themselves, 

 without any time or effort on the part of ihe 

 apiarist. Possibly this same method might 



* This entiiini'^'is too liirpe for •*> intrr u.se, but just 

 right for summer. 



