118 WINTERING BEES. 



edge of the ventilator, at the sides, will rest on the 

 upper edge of the movable partitions, on each side 

 of the brood section. Pack the sides of the' hive 

 (that part occupied by the side boxes in summer) 

 closely with very fine hay or straw. Pack the cap 

 as full of the same matter as it can be crowded. 

 Then put the thickness of one or two inches over 

 the ventilator, filling up evenly, so when the cap is 

 placed over the upper part, the cap and sides will 

 be compactly filled. There must be no spaces left 

 unfilled, the object being to secure an even tempera- 

 ture in the brood section, and absorb all moisture 

 thrown off by the bees ; and to do this successfully, 

 the cap and sides must be closely packed throughout. 

 When you have the cap and sides well packed, re- 

 place the cap, .and the work is done. Shade the 

 front of the hives during the winter months. No 

 matter if the snow drifts over the hive so as to com- 

 pletely bury it from sight, let it remain ; — your bees 

 are safe. 



A neighbor of mine had fifteen stocks in Control- 

 lable Hives completely buried in snow over six feet 

 deep, and the crust formed over them so it would 

 bear a horse. They remained under the snow, 

 from January until April, when they thawed out, 

 and every stock was found to be in first-class order. 



When there is onlj' a small quantity of snow about 

 the hive, say only enough to cover the lower en- 

 trance, and there should come a ver}- warm spell 

 of weather, which would bring the bees out, be 

 sure to clear away the snow so they need not be 

 kept back by it. But it will take an exceedingly 



