HOW TO WINTER BEES 149 



1903-04 when many bee-keepers in the Northern 

 States lost 40 per cent, of their bees. It might be 

 wise when such a winter occurs to give some tem- 

 porary protection to the hives, Hke covering them 

 with boughs of evergreen or building a close wind- 

 break. The entrance to a chaff hive should always 

 be contracted in winter to keep out cold and mice. 



THE TENEMENT HIVE 



This is a box made for holding from two to ten 

 hives, and which we have used with perfect success. 

 Our favourite tenement-hive was arranged for six 

 hives in two stories. The bottom was packed well 

 with dry leaves or chaff, and three hives were set 

 somewhat near each other. Entrances were boxed 

 back, affording a front hall for each hive-entrance. 

 After three hives were thus set in and packed with 

 chaff on every side and between, a shelf was put across 

 and on this were set three more hives which were 

 likewise packed. The entrances to the upper 

 row were on the same side as those to the lower ix)w, 

 and the cover of the box sloped back from the front 

 of the hives and was hinged along its highest edge; 

 thus when we wished to examine the hives we lifted 

 the cover and examined the bees from the back side 

 instead of standing directly in front of the entrance. 

 Our losses were rare and small while using these 

 tenements. The advantage of the tenement over the 

 chaff hive is that it is cheaper, and that several 

 colonies packed together help to keep each other 

 warm. 



