1897. 



THE AMERICAN BEE KEEPER. 



359 



(including closed end frames); still, 

 insure reasonably good success. 



To obtain a tnore intelligent under- 

 standing of the wintering problem, 

 let us consider a few facts relative 

 thereto, and the circumstances which 

 necessitate slight changes in the ar- 

 rangements. First oF all it is a well 

 established fact that single walls are 

 insufficient for protection against the 

 c'lld of our Northern states; hence, 

 something equivalent to about two 

 inches of packing on the bottom, 

 sides and end must be included as a 

 requisite to successful wintering. 

 Above the frames I would recommend 

 about four to six inches of packing 

 for protection. The warmth of the 

 colony naturally ascending necessities 

 a greater thickness above to prevent 

 its radiation With hives well pack- 

 ed on the bottom, ends and sides 

 a tray of saw-dust about six inches 

 deep will conserve most of the heat 

 generated by an average colony. 

 Preferable, the tray should have a 

 muslin bottom, which when filled with 

 saw-du-t will confijrm to, and fill the 

 shallow bee space above the frames. 



With no packing at the bottom or 

 sides the thin walls allow a constant 

 radiation of heat from the colony 

 and when the temperature becomes 

 sufficiently low, we find consequent 

 condensation of moisture. Under 

 such circumstances a slow upward cur- 

 rent is necessary to carry it off. In 

 order to accomplish it planer shavings 

 chaff should be used in the tray instead 

 of saw dust. The reader will readily 

 comprehend that an upward current 

 can only be obtained at an expense of 

 the vitality of the colony, and in con- 

 sequence must ilraw largely upon 

 J i r stores to maintain the requsit de- 



gree of warmth. This explains why 

 the consumption of food is greater in 

 out-door wintering than in cellars or 

 special repositories. Let us bear in 

 mind that converse is also true with a 

 perfect system of out-door wintering. 

 Never in all my life experience with 

 special repositories or cellars has the 

 comsumption of food been less, than 

 with hives properly prepared for open 

 air wintering. 



With sufficent packing on all sides 

 and bottom together with suitable en- 

 trance protection, the warmth of the 

 colony is almost wholly conserved- 

 A hive without entrance protection 

 may be compared to a house with 

 suitable warming appliances and hav- 

 ing the door left open. I often have 

 wondered why so many have attempt- 

 ed to construct warm hives, and leave 

 the front door wide open. Of course 

 to contract the entrance of an ordinary 

 hive without fir^t constructing some 

 anti-clogging arrangement would 

 prove disa-trous — the result would be 

 suffocation. 



Without packing an increased 

 amount of food is consumed necessi- 

 tating an undue number of cleansing 

 flights, which is one cause of dysen- 

 tery. 



1 have found three essentials prom- 

 inent in successful out door wintering* 

 Outside packing — entrance protection 

 — and a small filth chamber or box 

 below the entrance to receive all dead 

 bees which are carried there during 

 warm spells. This prevents all clog- 

 ging which is so common with the or- 

 dinary entrance. 



Having given these three requisites 

 in hive construction for sucessful out 

 door wintering let us endeavor to ap- 

 proximate the combination, using the 



