NOVEMBER 15, 1914 



893 



A Story without Words. 



combs more readily than they can pass 

 under, especially during winter weather. 



4. Four to six inches wide by the depth 

 of the entrance, which is IVi inches. 



5. Seven-eighths of an inch ; but I have 

 found with many colonies this entrance is 

 not large enough when the bees are flying 

 freely ; and in many cases I have had the 

 wood cut out between two holes. Where 

 the beekeejDer is living near the bees it 

 would be well to have an adjustable en- 

 trance; but do not change the position of 

 th^ opening, as it may confuse the bees and 

 lead to their destruction when the weather 

 is unfavorable. You do not get the value 

 of the three holes % inch in diameter in the 

 front board, as described in my previous 

 article, as you appear to ignore it in your 

 description. The winter entrance to my hive 

 is 11/4 in- deep ; the board put in front of 

 the hive has an ordinary entrance cut on the 

 lower side. In addition it has three holes 

 bored in such a way that they come just 

 under the front board of the hive. The 

 object of this is still to have an entrance 

 to the hive should the lower entrance become 

 clogged with dead bees. Again, there should 

 be an entrance to the hive immediately above 

 the bottom-board. The object of this is so 

 the bees can carry out dead bees without 

 taking them over any obstruction. 



n. Most decidedly one inch. This enables 

 dead bees to fall away from the combs, and 

 also gives better ventilation. 



7. I have no reason to believe that the 

 lower entrance, % x 8 inch, is not ample for 

 any colony in winter providing the top of 

 the hive is not hermetically sealed, and the 

 top packing is not so compact that no 

 moisture nor air can pass upward. With a 

 front packing under, at the sides and over 

 the entrance, and with no strong current of 

 wind, such an entrance is about right ; yet I 

 do not want to be arbitrary in the matter. 

 To any one who wants a wide-open entrance 

 with zero weather let me suggest that he 

 try it in his own home first. 



8. I cannot tell. Five frames well cov- 

 ered with young bees should stand an en- 

 trance four inches wide. 



9. I cannot tell. It would depend upon 

 how badly I wanted the bees. Winters vary. 

 If I had a large number of colonies, and 

 did not want to run any risk, I would not 

 attempt to winter a colony that could not 

 well cover four combs this far north. Such 

 a colony with a good queen and plenty of 

 good stores could give a good account of 

 itself the next season. 



10. The cold air, I believe, always rushes 

 into the warm air because the hot air is 

 expanded air, rarefied atmosphere. What 

 you suggest is all right, providing you are 

 there to give needed attention when changes 

 come. 



11. Your supiDosition is correct as to my 

 cover over frames. Forest leaves are much 

 better for packing over the bees; but the 

 sacking with the leaves added is excellent. 

 Newspapers or other paper in sheets over 

 the cloth on top of the frames or queen- 

 excluder is very good. A chaff division- 

 board or a bag with some kind of filling 

 such as, wool, carjDet, or leaves, is the best 

 way to fill the vacant space in a hive, this 

 space resulting from the contraction of the 

 brood-chamber. 



12. No, I do not crowd the leaves used 

 for packing. Let there be some looseness 

 left; press the packing down moderately. 



13. There are very few colonies not win- 

 tered on the full number of combs — twelve. 

 In the first place, my bees are run on the 

 non-swarming plan, and are much more 

 likely to be full colonies. Next, in out- 

 apiaries I do not always have a place secure 

 from robbers; and, lastly, when bees are 

 packed by Sept. 1 or 15 there is not as 

 great necessity of contracting the brood- 

 chamber, although it is always desirable in 

 order to secure the best results. 



You state you are using one-inch material 



