SCO 



THE AMERICAN BEE KEEPER. 



December 



ordinary hive. Of course it will be 

 imperfect compared with hives made 

 especially for the purpose. First of 

 all let us make, composed of slats tw ) 

 inches wide, set two inchs apart per- 

 pendicular to each other, a crate, in 

 size when completed, four inches larg- 

 er inside measurement, than the 

 hive, and about six or eight inches 

 deeper. At the bottom two cleats two 

 inches wide are set edgwise to support 

 a bottom board ^ inch thick of the 

 same length and width as the hive. 

 At the entrance end an opening 

 should be cut two in. wide by three 

 inches long for the dead bees to drop 

 through into the vestibule to be placed 

 at the front as will be discribed in 

 another paragraph. To give room 

 for this opening the front cleat should 

 be set two inches from the end of the 

 bottom board. It will be found best 

 to nail the cleats to the bottom borad 

 first then put them together into the 

 crate using a nail or two to secure in 

 position after pHcking underneath the 

 same. 



The vestibule entrance may be a 

 small box made of ^ inch lumber 2 in. 

 deep, about 8 inch square. It should 

 be placed with open side against the 

 hive front, and a 2 inch x^ inch open- 

 ing or entrance cut hall way up open- 

 ing between two slats of the crate- 

 From this entrance to the one proper 

 a two inch slat should incline for the 

 bees to travel. It may be secured by 

 nailing to a block beveled on the lop 

 and nailing to the front of the vesti- 

 bule box. The inclination prevents 

 all tendency to become clogged with 

 dead bees. No alighting board is re- 

 quired to this small entrance. The- 

 teudency to clog with snow makes it ob 

 jectionable. 



A simple cover for the crate should 

 be made which will fit over all with a 

 roof inclined sufficiently to allow the 

 water to run off. A slatted roof will 

 answer provided the slates run down- 

 wards and are covered with oil- cloth 

 nailed on the out side edges. Oil- 

 cloth makes a good winter roof if left 

 undisturbed as it cracks very easily 

 when cold. The heat of summer soft- 

 ens and destroys it. With the vesti- 

 bule or box entrance placed at the 

 bottom of the crate, which is two 

 inches lo wer than the hive, the whole 

 may be packed with leaves and straw. 

 The leaves should be placed under- 

 neath the bottom board and straw at 

 the sides. A piece of burlap or muslin 

 (the latter is preferable) should be 

 placed over the frame, and leaves or 

 chaff over all. The cover should be 

 secured in place with a nail or two as 

 security against strong winds. No 

 fears need be entertained as to the 

 sides getting water soaked, the hive 

 being sufficient protection against 

 moisture. Even if the packing be- 

 comes somewhat wet, it still greatly 

 serves to maintain the warmth of the 

 colony. Preferably the crate and 

 hive should set ten or twelve inches 

 from the ground, which will obviate 

 the necessity of keeping the entrance 

 free from snow. 



Although there is an air of cheap- 

 ness in ihisslructuie which will answer 

 as a makeshift, with hives made to 

 combine summer and winter requisites, 

 the expense will be grater and withal 

 fur more durable. 



In consitiering the importance of 

 complete out-door winteiing attach- 

 ments, the first cost should be count- 

 e<l including for many years of service. 

 With bees properly wintered the loss 



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