354: THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



be applied wet. as it will thus pack more closely, and afterwards 

 better confine the heat. When finished, it should be well sprinkled 

 with water from a watering-can, and allowed to freeze. A very 

 compact structure will*thus be formed (Figs. 69 and 70). The 

 mouths of the ventilating tubes should next be protected, by plac- 

 ing a piece of board before each of them ; and the trenches are then 

 to be filled loosely with tangled straw. 



" All this labor must be performed gently, so as to disturb the 

 confined bees as little as practicable. The covering of leaves or 

 pine-shatters should not be applied till after cold weather sets in ; 

 and it may be deferred till after the earlier snows have fallen and 

 melted, and the severer weather of December or January makes 

 additional protection desirable. 



" If an extensive Apiary renders a clamp of larger dimensions 

 necessary, two or three pits, or air-chambers, with their appur- 

 tenant ventilating tubes and chimneys (PI. XXL, Fig. 70) may 

 be introduced. 



" On clear, mild days, the protecting boards may be removed from 

 the mouth of the ventilating tubes, that fresh air may freely enter 

 the clamp, and carry off any dampness which may have formed 

 within ; and, as the entire interior is in direct communication 

 with the air-chamber, a dry and healthy atmosphere will speedily 

 be diffused throughout, by means of the draught of the chimney. 

 Towards evening, the protecting-boards should be replaced. On 

 the return of milder weather, or on the termination of severe and 

 protracted frosts, the mouths of the ventilating tubes may be 

 uncovered, and left open, day and night, to prevent the undue 

 development of heat in the interior ; but in clear weather, the 

 direct rays of the sun should be excluded from the mouths of the 

 tubes. If the holes in the sides of the chimney should at any time 

 become closed with snow, the obstructions must be removed, by- 

 means of a rake or other convenient implement. When the 

 exterior of the clamp is covered with snow, the mouth of one of 

 the ventilating tubes should be kept open, even in cold weather, 

 and of all of them, when the weather is moderate, because the 

 snow covering causes great internal warmth. 



" To ascertain the interior temperature, a thermometer attached 



