244 



WINTERING 



raised to provide for upward ventilation. About eighteen inches 

 of straw is placed over the hives and this in turn is covered with 

 a layer of loose earth. IS'ot over two layers of hives should be 

 placed in such a trench. There are only a comparatively few 



locations where this 

 method is suited to the 

 conditions, as a well- 

 drained situation and 

 porous soil are essen- 

 tial. Bees pitted in 

 this manner are liable 

 to be disturbed by 

 skunks or other burrow- 

 ing animals and seri- 

 ous loss to result. 

 There is danger of loss 

 also if they be buried 

 either too deep or not 

 deep enough. While 

 the method may do 

 as a makeshift under 

 temporary conditions it 

 is not to be generally 

 recommended. 



Packing on 

 Summer Stands. — 

 Another method suit- 

 able for southerly 

 latitudes where only 

 slight winter protection is needed is packing on the summer 

 stands. The illustration (Fig. Ill) shows an apiary in southern 

 Iowa. In this case a tight board fence about thirty inches high is 

 used as a windbreak to the north of the bees. The hives set in a 

 long row about six inches from this fence. Leaves are packed be- 

 tween and behind the hives and a waterproof roofing is placed 



Fig. 112. — Parts of a double- walled hive. 



