386 THE BEE-KEF.PERS' REVIEW 



not be 10 cars of honey on the whole western slope, and he doubts 

 if there are 35 cars in the whole state. We believe that Gleanings 

 was innocent of any intention to injure the producer, but it shows 

 how dangerous to the producer it is to copy any such reports from 

 the press which may have been given for the purpose of influencing 

 the market. 



Wintering Bees Out of Doors in Cases Packed With Chaff. 



With a rule of every thing portable in out-yard work, our win- 

 ter cases are built in sections. Each section of the case is built flat, 

 so it can be loaded upon a wagon or car for moving about as well as 

 if in the crude state of lumber. 



The case is built of hemlock lumber, except the framework of 

 the sides, ends and covers, which are of hardwood, this being better 

 to hold the nails. The roof, sides, ends and floor is made of %" 

 planed and matched material, the best part being selected for the 

 cover. The three sleepers supporting the floor are 2x4s laid flat, 

 and the floor is nailed to the sleepers as in laying matched flooring. 



The case is built to winter four swarms, two pair placed side by 

 side close together and two pair placed close together at the back 

 ends, forming a solid block of four swarms, two facing east and two 

 facing west. They may winter just as well facing north and south, 

 but we reason that by facing our bees east and west, all colonies get 

 an equal share of the sun, which may be an advantage. 



We like a considerable packing around our hives in winter, so 

 built our winter cases large enough to admit of 5" of chaff on all 

 sides and 8 to lO''^ on top. As we winter most of our bees IJ'^ stor- 

 ies high, we build the cases 27'" deep. 



The floor of the case is used summer and winter (for a. stand in 

 summer), the swarms being placed one on each corner of the stand 

 during summer, then during winter are crowded close together at 

 the center, which leaves the desired 5'' for packing material on all- 

 sides. 



For the 10-frame L hive the floor is built 42x50". The sides 

 and ends of the case are made large enough to telescope over the 

 floor %" to exclude snow and rain at the bottom, the frame-work 

 of the case preventing its telescoping too far. 



The case is "tacked" together at each corner with 6d nails, and 

 can be easily pried apart for summer storing or moving. 



The entrance "bridge" is 2}^^^ high and 8" long, admitting the 

 bees to enter on the wing to the inner hive. The half-tone submit- 

 ted will make everything so plain but little description is necessary. 



We usually pack our bees early this month (October), and 

 the material used for packing varies according to the ease of pro- 

 curing. We see no difference between wheat, oat or clover chaff, 

 and have sometimes used oat straw with good results. — Townsend. 



