

CHAPTER XXIV. 



WINTERING BEES. 



A HIVE made tight, without upward ventilation, 

 condenses moisture on the sides and top, which being 

 absorbed by the wood, makes it a conductor of heat 

 and cold, and renders it excessively damp within, 

 causing great loss of bees, and permanent injury to 

 the combs. 



These difficulties are now overcome by attending to 

 the condition of the combs, and by the use of the Cal- 

 ifornia hive in combination with the following plans of 

 of management during the winter. 



CONDITIONS SUITED TO WINTERING. 



Combs that have been used to rear a number of 

 generations of young, are the most suitable to receive 

 the winter supplies of food, and for the bees to clus- 

 ter on during the winter ; when first built, the comb 

 is nearly white ; at the emerging of the first genera- 

 tion it becomes yellow, and grows darker and darker 

 with each succeeding generation ; each young bee 

 leaving a fine lining or cocoon in the cell it emerges 



