338 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



colony by the excitement created by confining them when 

 the weather is warm enough to entice them abroad.* 



The best Apiarians are still at variance as to how much 

 air should be given to bees in Winter, and whether hives 

 should have upward ventilation, or not. If the hives have 

 no upward ventilation, then I believe that they need as 

 much, or even more, air, than in Summer. If upAvard 

 ventilation is given, the smaller the lower openings the 

 better, as it is not desirable that there should be a strong 

 current of cold air passing ^hrough the hives. 



In my hives, all the lower passages can easily be closed 

 air-tight, and the bees allowed to go in and out through 

 the Winter-entrance, which is made at the top of the 

 hive (PL I., Fig. 1 ; PI. V., Fig. 17).f 



If the hive has an upper box-cover, as 1 in PI. HI., Fig. 

 9, the holes in the honey-board must be left open, or 

 closed only with wire-cloth, that the dampness, which would 

 otherwise condense or freeze on the combs and interior 

 walls of the hive, may escape without injuring the bees. 



If an upper hive, as in Plate V., Fig. 16, is placed on 

 the top of the one in which the bees are wintered, its 

 roof should be slightly elevated, to allow the escape of 

 moisture. If a single hive, like that in Plate I, Fig. 1, or 

 Plate V., Fig. 17, is used, the same opening must be 

 allowed for the escape of dampnessj. 



* If the sun is warm and the ground covered with new-fallen snow, the light 

 may so blind the bees, that they will fall into this fleecy snow, and quickly perish. 

 At such times, it would probably be best to confine them to their hives. If the 

 snow is hard enough to bear up a healthy bee, it is seldom lost, unless tempted to 

 fly by the sun shining full upon its hive as it stands in a sheltered place. 



t The lower entrance maybe closed in the Fall, while the bees are still flying, 

 and they will quickly accustom themselves to the upper one. Mr. Wheaton sug- 

 gests making this Winter-entrance in the back of the hive, and in the Fall rovers- 

 ing the pile, stand and all. This entrance is merely proposed for trial. 



$ Small strips of wood, one-eighth of an inch thick, may be placed between the 

 sides of the hive and the under-surface of the roof, and, when the roof is securely 

 fastened, the dampness can escape from the front and rear of the hive, where tht 

 openings are sheltered by the clamps, from the snow and rain. 



