WINTERING. 



207 



380. Avoid the Ill-effects of Damp and Storms. — Care should 

 be taken to make all hive roofs thoroughly watcrioroof, because, 

 damp entering is very unhealthy. Damaged roofs should be 

 repaired and well painted before the winter sets in ; and, vihere 

 necessary, waterproof covers should be i^ut on in anticipation 

 of severe rain and snow. Elvery's waterproof cover can be 

 put on and taken off in a minute or two, and gives complete 

 protection. A defective roof can be 

 made rainproof by giving it a coat 

 of thick paint, then laying on, while 

 the paint is wet, a piece of canvas or 

 calico to cover the roof top. This 

 material should have a good coat of 

 paint, and a second coat when the 

 first has dried. Skeps require special 

 attention in this respect. They 

 should have a thick covering of 

 straw, tied securely at the top, and 

 held to the skep by hoops (Fig. 1 14). 

 Storms sometimes make havoc of 

 stocks by upsetting, or unroofing 

 the hives. A stake should be driven 

 into the ground close to the hive, 

 and a rope, carrying a heavy stone, 

 or a couple of bricks, and tied to the 

 stake at one end, should be passed 



over the hive as a protection against storms (Fig. 115). Sno 

 should be brushed off the hive roofs before it melts. 



Fig. 115. 



HIVE SECUUED AGAINST 



STORMS. 



a b 



Photo hy] IJ- G- THgges. 



Fig. 116. 



HIVES PREPARED ifOR (a) WINXEil AND (b) SUMMER. 



