864: MONTHLY MANAGEMENT. 



is still much moisture appearing in the main apart- 

 ment, remove the honey-board entirely, and in its 

 place cover with a cloth, and add dry material as be- 

 fore. The upward ventilating passages are to be kept 

 open during the winter, and be partly closed when the 

 chamber is cleaned out in the spring. 



The amount of air admitted below is governed by 

 turning the slides on the sides of the hive, to admit 

 air into chamber B. If one-half of each aperture is 

 left open, it will afford ample air, unless the bees are 

 excited by removal. The movable slide F is to be 

 taken out, and the propolis that the bees have plaster- 

 ed over the wire screens covering the apertures G G, 

 melted or scraped off, and the slide replaced. The 

 curtain is used to exclude the light and the excess 

 of moisture from reaching the bees. 



The entrances in front are to be entirely closed 

 during the prevalence of cold, stormy, and windy 

 weather ; but on the return' of warm days, they are 

 to be opened, to permit the bees to fly out. But if 

 this cannot be attended to, or if there is danger of 

 neglecting to open the hives when it becomes neces- 

 sary, it is better not to close them ; for it is better to 

 lose a few from exposure, than to endanger the lives 

 of the whole swarm. 



When the hives are properly prepared for winter, 

 as above, great care should be taken not to jar or dis- 

 turb them in any way, but to afford them the full 

 benefit of their season of repose. 



