208 A Modern Bee-Farm 
Winter Passages 
enable the bees to cluster above the frames. forming a 
connecting link with the small outer seams, which are then 
less attenuated; while the distant stores may be more 
readily appropriated. Half-inch sticks may be placed 
across the frames, or as preferred by the Author, shallow 
V-shaped tunnels of thin wood. 
Yet another Point 
of the greatest value, is the kind of stock the apiarist 
keeps. A colony of bees that winter well, will usually do ~~: 
well all the time. Consequently these should be bred 
from as far as possible for securing queens to preside over 
all hives in the apiary. Whether they be hybrids, or 
some special strain of any pure variety bred up to a high 
standard of excellence, no pains should be spared in 
perpetuating these good qualities. 
Position of Frames. 
All single walled hives should stand so that the frames 
are “end on” to the south wall, that every seam of bees is 
warmed up during each gleam of winter sunshine, enabling 
them to change their position and take food, while bringing 
stores nearer the cluster. Bees will winter all right if so 
situated and in good heart, but where placed behind thick 
packed walls they are subject to a continued low tempera- 
ture, as the mid-winter sun does not penetrate to the 
cluster. There is no warmth in such double walls at this 
time, just when it is most required, though of course I 
admit that they are a benefit as soon as the cluster 
expands, retaining the heat given out by the bees; but 
this does not compensate for the greater disadvantage in 
mid-winter as before mentioned. 
Mr. Abbott, when editor of the Brztzsh Bee Journal, was 
