WINTEEING. 



481 



WINTERING. 



as these boxes are of such varieties of shapes 

 and sizes they are not usually very satisfac- 

 tory; and, besides, they do not shed rain un- 

 less covered with roofing-paper. 



Another scheme is to put the hives in a 

 row under a shed, leaving the point of least 

 exposure in front. Straw is then packed in 

 between the hives and in the rear, after 

 wliich itiscovered with boards to shed w ater. 



sealed cover brings the bees through in bet- 

 ter shape. In the colder climates, such ?.s 

 Northern Michigan, Canada, Northern Wis- 

 consin , Minnesota, and Northern New York, 

 the absorbing plan seems to have somewhat 

 the preference, although we find advocates 

 of the sealed- cover principle in these local- 

 ities. If there is danger of the entrance be- 

 coming closed by deep snows or ice for 



TOWNSEND'S METHOD OF PROTECTING HIVES AFTER SETTING THEM OUT IN THE SPRING. 



But working hives under a shed is very in- 

 convenient in summer, and therefore one is 

 strongly urged to adopt the winter-case ])]an 

 if he can not afford double-walled chalf 

 hives. 



SEALED COVERS OK ABSORBING CUSHrONS 

 OVER THE CLUSTER OF BEES. 



There has been considerable discussion 

 in the bee-journals over the question of 

 whether there should be loose porous absorb- 



TWO- STORY DOUBLE -WALLED OR CHAFF 

 HIVE. 



ing cushions or other material placed above 

 the cluster of bees so that the moisture from 

 a cluster can pass up into the packing, or 

 whether, on the other hand, the top of the 

 hive should be sealed tight, and packing 

 placed on top. In the milder climates it 

 seems to be pretty well proven that the 



weeks at a time, upward ventilation through 

 porous packing would prrbably be safer, for 

 bees must have air. 



When the top of the hive is closed tight, 

 the moisture from the bees collects on the 

 under side of the cover, drips down, and 

 passes out at the entrance. The absorbing 

 cushions, on the other hand, in our climate 



MODERN ONE-STORY DOUBLE-WALLED 

 HIVE. 



often become damp and soggy before spring. 

 When in that condition they will sometimes 

 freeze; and, so far from being a protection, 

 they are a positive detriment. But where 

 the climate is cold and dry, the tempera- 

 ture going down to 10 or 20 below zero, the 



