IHE BEE-KEEPERS' BE VIEW. 



S15 



these experiments several times with the 

 same results. Furthermore, the comb 

 spacingsin my hives are I'g inches from 

 center to center. The artificial combs are 

 ^s of an inch thicker, which limits the space 

 to ^li of an inch. Notwithstanding thicker 

 combs and narrower spaces, and, conse- 

 quently less bees occupying a given area, a 

 temperature of <>0 against;?")' is maintained, 

 showing conclusively the advantage of not 

 only having closed ends, but combs attach- 

 ed as closely as possible to the end bars. 

 By reference to the accompanying illustra- 

 tion, we find the average attachments and 

 passage ways. 



ASPINWALL PLAN FOB OUT-DOOK WINTEBING. 



Bee^ in their natural abodes seldom have 

 separate or store apartments : their stores 

 more thoroughly fill the brood combs, which 

 have additional security at the edges. We 

 seldom find them closely attached below the 

 honey line. In long perpendicular combs 

 the honey line extends proportionally lower 

 than in shallow ones. Such are more close- 

 ly attached, and are found in hollow trees 

 which are also favorable to wintering. 



The second requisite in successful winter- 

 ing is, outside protection, or sufficient thick- 

 ness of the outer walls. Much has been 

 written relative to double walls and air 

 spaces ; suffice it to say that the elements of 

 success are not there. ( )ur friend Hutchin- 

 son has touched that subject thoroughly in 

 a previous number of the "Review." My 

 experience leads me to conclude, that with 

 two-inch spaces, most any material will 



serve for packing. Dry leaves, chaff, plan- 

 er shavings, saw-dust or paper torn into 

 shreds, all answer equally well, if properly 

 packed. 



Iq addition to the closed-end frames and 

 outside packing, I have added a vesti- 

 bule entrance, and dead air or refuse cham- 

 ber. The accompanying illustration repres- 

 ents the hive I use. The packing may bs 

 attached or removed either in part or whole 

 as the locality may demand. It will be seen 

 that the stand, sides and top are pack- 

 ed. (See letters P. P. P. P.) The vestibule 

 is iudicatad by the letter A, denoting the 

 air space through which a bridge two inches 

 wide atone side of the hive leads up to the 

 entrance, E. The incline prevents any clog- 

 ging. This entrance is }4 inch wide and 

 two inches long, arranged with a button 

 cover which is prevented by a stop nail, 

 from closing more than two-thirds of the 

 opening. This ^4 inch opening is all that is 

 allowed during cold weather. Below and at 

 the side of the bridge leading from the en- 

 tr.mce E, is an opening (), three or four 

 inches long and ^^ of an inch wide leading 

 into tiie dead air chamber D. A. Through 

 this opening the carbonic acid gas, and all 

 refuse is allowed to escape. The bees re- 

 move their dead and drop them through 

 this opening. All careful observers have 

 no', iced that a strong colony will remove the 

 dead as the weather permits, and when too 

 cold, are unable to carry them beyond the 

 entrance. This explains why the entrances 

 of so many strong colonies become clogged 

 with dead bees and accumulated moisture 

 from the hive walls. It is remarkable that 

 nearly all the bees which die during the win- 

 ter are dropped into the dead air chamber. 

 Tliis apartment is provided with a loose fit- 

 ting removable bottom, secured by buttons or 

 any other simple method. Its looseness 

 allows the poisonous gas to escape, and fa- 

 cilitates removal and cleaning in the spring. 

 The opening () is provided with a block for 

 closing it when the vestibule is removed. 

 The top is provided with a tray which ex- 

 tends over the sides affording most thorough 

 protection. The hive cover C, rests upon 

 and covers the opening in the tray. Un- 

 bleached muslin is secured within the bot- 

 tom of the tray, wiiich is filled with saw 

 dust, it being preferable to any lighter pack- 

 ing. The warmth of the colony is more 

 tlioroughly retained than with planer shav- 

 ings or chaff. Although the two latter get 



