206 



THE PRACTICAL BBB GUIDB. 



to leave the warmer portion of the hive, would perish from 

 hunger. Two pieces of stick, |" thick, laid across the frames, 

 say i" apart, provide a winter passage under the sheet. 

 Entrances should be sheltered from direct sun rays while snow 

 is on the ground, lest bees, attracted by the light and heat, 

 should fall on the snow and die; and lest those within, en- 

 couraged to break up the cluster, should continue in a state of 

 activity throughout the winter, consuming extra food, exhaust- 

 ing their vitality, and, probably, falling victims to disease. 

 Towards the end of February, or the beginning of March, if 

 the weather permit, a corner of the sheet may be raised for a 

 moment, when, if it is seen that food is required, a cake of 

 flour candy (324) should be given at once. 



378. Keep the Bees as Quiet as Possible. — Sudden changes 

 of temperature lead to increased activity in the cluster, and 

 this means increased consumption of food, with the frequent 

 result of filling the intestines with digested food, which, the 

 bees being unwilling to void it in the hive (11), promotes 

 dysentery (328). Therefore, unnecessary, empty combs should 

 be removed, and the nest should be reduced to the size required 

 by the bees, the dummy being moved up for the purpose. 

 Warm coverings should be placed over the frames. A section 

 crate, with a piece of stuff tacked underneath, and filled with cork 

 dust, dry chaff, or torn paper, may be set upon the quilts (96). 

 With hives constructed for the purpose, the riser (87) may be 

 inverted over the body box, thus supplying additional walls; 



and the porch may be 

 transferred from the 

 body box to it. (Fig. 

 116, a.). 



379. Sup()ly Suffi- 

 cient Ventilation 



When danger of rob- 

 bing is over, the bees 

 having ceased to fly 

 freely, the doors of all 

 hives should be opened 

 to a space of about six 

 inches ; and, frequently 

 during the winter, a 

 crooked wire should be 

 used to draw out any 

 dead bees which, accu- 

 mulating near the en- 

 trance, might prevent 

 ventilation, and lead to 

 the smothering of the 

 living bees within. 



Fig. 114. 



THATCHED SEEP. 



