Fig. 2— The Dadant method of wintering bees in the Dadant hive; C. P. 

 Dadant standing between the hives. 



Pig. 2 shows C. P. Dadant and his method of wintering in the 

 Dadant hive, which he has used for many years. The results 

 seem to be uniformly good when proper stores are supplied. This 

 way, while well suited to the conditions of southern Iowa, would 

 hardly be safe much farther north, judging from the reports 

 of outdoor wintering from northern counties. This plan is 

 not well suited to small hives such as the eight frame so common- 

 ly used. 



PITTING OR BURYING. 



A few Iowa bee keepers practice pitting or burying. A trench 

 is dug about 18 inches deep and 2x4 's placed in the bottom to 

 keep the hives off the ground. After its bottom has been re- 

 moved the hive is placed on the 2x4 's and its cover slightly 

 lifted to provide for upward ventilation. About eighteen inches 

 of straw is placed over the hives and this in turn is covered with 

 a layer of loose earth. Not over two layers of hives should be 

 placed in such a trench. A well drained situation is essential. 



W. P. Southworth of Sioux City has wintered successfully in 

 this way, although failure resulted in some instances. The 

 failure he believed to be the result of disturbance by skunks 

 in one instance, and in another by pitting the bees down too 

 deeply. 



