NOVEMBER 15, 1914 



891 



Fig. 3. — The outside case in position over the four hives. 

 the roofing paper in place. 



Note the metal binding strips used to hold 



quickly from the cases as from double- 

 walled hives. However, I would rather they 

 would not fly ; for unless they have very 

 poor stores they do not need the flight; and 

 if they don't need it they are better off 

 inside. 



One of the most valuable features of 

 these cases is the protection in the spring, 

 I have never seen a particle of chilled 

 brood in these cases. Furthermore, the same 

 amount of bees will protect and take care 

 of much more brood than in single-walled 

 hives. They will go to brood-rearing earlier 

 than where wintered in any other way. But 

 room should not be given faster than it is 

 needed. It is more work to give combs just 

 as they are needed ; but we must look to the 

 small things if we ai'e really to succeed. 



The packing and case should not be 

 removed until it is certain that the bees can 

 protect all the brood the queens will pro- 

 duce. This is one of the few things it pays 

 to put off. T do not remove mine until well 

 into May, depending on weather conditions. 



I do not want a sealed cover, neither do I 

 want a burlap or canvas over the entire top 

 of my hives; so T cut a four-inch-square 

 hole in the center of my super covers, this 



hole being covered by a piece of closely 

 woven burlap. So arranged I have never 

 had dam]) packing nor moldy combs. 



It is a good plan to fix the bottom so tliat 

 the wind cannot blow under. In this climate 

 I do not consider it advisable to pack the 

 bottom except to push some straw or other 

 paekine: under the edges of the bottom tn 

 keep the wind out. If I lived further north 

 I would use more packing on the sides and 

 top, and would use a double bottom. 



ALL-METAL COVERS. 



My hive-covers are made of common 

 black iron. They are just trays used bottom 

 side up. They cost me less than 10 cts. 

 each, and it is about half an hour's work lo 

 n;ake one. The corners are bent in and 

 riveted, and the edges turned back. The 

 cover has two coats of paint inside and 

 three outside. I use red lead ground in oil 

 for the first coat, and finish with white lead. 

 Red lead makes a better priming coat on 

 wood than white lead. After it is painted 

 and thoroughly dry I paste a sheet of asbes- 

 tos in the top. Paste made for this purpose 

 must be used or it will not stick. Ordinal^' 

 flour paste will not do. 



