232 MANAGEMENT IN WINTER. 



past the sentinel on watch. An improvement, and 

 a very simple one, in the formation of the doors, 

 will increase the difficulty of eluding the vigilance of 

 the guard ; make them 1 \ inch thick, the small aper- 

 tures will then be to the bees, in fact, long narrow 

 passages, along which they will be unable to make 

 their way in the face of the opposing sentinel. Doors 

 of this kind should remain on the hives during the 

 whole winter. If the precaution above recommended 

 fails, the hive attacked must be removed for a few 

 days, till quiet is in some degree restored to the, 

 apiary; and, in the meantime, to amuse and baffle 

 the assailants, an empty hive may occupy the station. 

 No stock-hive ought at this season to require feed- 

 ing. Still, circumstances may occur, as in the case of 

 long-continued bad weather during the end of autumn, 

 which may render some supply beneficial and even 

 necessary. In such cases, the best mode of admini- 

 stering it, is to raise the hive which is to be assisted, 

 on a round or square frame of wood, two or three 

 inches deep, and place in the vacuum thus produced, 

 two or three pieces of full comb on edge, and in their 

 natural position. The bees will soon drain them, 

 storing the contents in the upper region of their do- 

 micile, after which the frame and empty comb may 

 be removed. In default of comb, syrup must be sup- 

 plied, as directed in page 18G. 



It is almost needless to say, that feeding during 

 winter is out of the question, even though the season 

 should be mild. It is unnecessary, and would prove 

 injurious, tempting the insects to leave the compara- 



