250 WINTERING 



so little alteration that but a few minutes is necessary to make 

 one over. As will be seen by Fig. 116, a six-inch strip is removed 

 in front of the entrance and turned inside the box to prevent the 

 packing from dropping down in front. On warm days the bees 

 are free to fly. Dry leaves are used for packing and about four 

 to six inches of space is filled all round the hives and usually 



FiQ. 116. — Snug for the winter. 



from ten to twelve inches over the top, the more the better. As 

 the hives are two stories high the bees have an abundance of room 

 for spring brood rearing. 



As before stated there should be an abundance of honey. 

 With a surplus available in the hive in spring and the hives 

 protected from the cold winds by the packing, they need not be 

 opened until the beginning of the honey flow. Colonies thus 

 packed, and opened for the first time about the first of May, 

 have been found to be full of brood and honey from fruit bloom. 



