THOUSAND ANSWERS 273 



cession fit to take them out. Indeed, the two good days may be 

 several days apart. Possibly one reason for the difference lies 

 in the condition of the bees. The night before mine are taken 

 out, doors and windows are open to the widest, and all night long 

 they have fresh air. So, when they are taken out. they do not feel 

 the change of air, and often they do not fly out of the hive at all 

 for some minutes after being put on the stands. If taken out of 

 the close air of the cellar when they are uneasy, they may get so 

 excited that they will swarm out. 



A big rag made very wet is one of the best things to lay 

 against the entrance when you want to keep bees in temporarily, 

 but I doubt that it would help any in the case under considera- 

 tion. I would rather have the bees so quiet that there is no need 

 to fasten them in. Try giving them a tremendous airing the 

 night before taking out. Contract the entrance immediately on 

 setting the hive on its stand. 



Wintering Out-of-Doors. — Q. How is this for wintering bees ; 

 In the late fall, after the honey-flow is over, place a piece of bur- 

 lap over the brood-frames and place a super filled with dry leaves 

 on top of that? (Tennessee.) 



A. For your locality it would be hard to find anything better. 



Q. What is the best plan to adopt in an effort to winter bees 

 on the summer stands? 



A. I would rather trust a single-walled hive in a protected 

 place, sheltered by buildings or trees, than a double-walled hive 

 fully exposed to the sweep of winds. If no other protection is at 

 hand, go back to that of our grandfathers. Make a shed, under 

 which the hives stand in a row, only a little higher than the hives, 

 closed on all sides but the side of the entrances, and then pack 

 straw in all the vacant space inside the shed. Even cornstalks 

 piled about a hive, wigwam shape, produced quite good results 

 with one man not five miles from us. 



Some have an outer case allowing a packing of leaves, planer 

 shavings or other loose material about the hive to the extent of 

 three or four inches on all sides and probably six inches on top. 

 Others omit the packing-case and hold leaves in place by a frame 

 of coarse netting. 



Q. On account of my apiary being some distance from my cel- 

 lar, I am thinking strongly of wintering outdoors. My bottom- 

 boards are reversible with the deep side two inches. My hives 

 are 10-frame dovetailed, (a) Should I use the deep side for win- 

 ter? (b) How much of the entrance should be closed? 



