The Care of Bees in Winter 351 



shavings because it holds water and thereby becomes a 

 poorer non-conductor. Tunnels through the packing pro- 

 vide entrances to the hives and the roof should be water 

 tight to prevent the packing from becoming wet from rain 

 or snow. This method of packing is used with excellent 

 results in many northern apiaries in the United States and 

 Canada. Packing may also be applied to each colony (Fig. 

 142) or to a row of hives in a variety of ways to suit the 

 convenience of the beekeeper. 



To secure the most favorable conditions, each strong col- 

 ony may be given two hive-bodies well supplied with stores 

 and then if four colonies are packed together in a large box 

 as described above we have as nearly ideal conditions as 

 may be obtained in the open. The beekeeper may rest 

 assured that the labor involved in thoroughly packing his 

 colonies and in furnishing abundant stores will be repaid 

 many fold. 



Colonies wintered outdoors should be provided with pack- 

 ing early. While the temperatures of autumn nights are 

 not so low as to endanger the bees, still the heat which must 

 be generated in an unpacked hive is an unnecessary drain 

 on the vitality and stores of the colony and for the average 

 northern apiary it is desirable that the colonies be packed 

 early in October. Similarly, the packing should not be 

 removed too early. When frequent examinations of the 

 colony become necessary, the temporary packing around the 

 hives becomes bothersome, but it is best to leave it on so 

 long as it does not interfere with the work of the apiary. 

 Where heavy outside packing is needed, the packing may 

 usually be kept on until some time in May. 



To reduce convection currents a tall hive is to be preferred 

 in winter. For summer manipulations the majority of 

 American beekeepers prefer a hive not deeper than the 

 Langstroth, which is rather shallow for best results in winter. 

 This may be overcome by giving each strong colony two 

 hive-bodies, the top one being well filled with stores. If 

 such a hive is well packed it is highly satisfactory. 



