REQUISITES ©F AN IMPROVED HIVE. 109 



entrances either entirely closed, or so contracted that a mouse 

 cannot gain admission. 



52. A good hive should have its alighting board construct- 

 ed so as to shelter the bees against wind and wet, and thus 

 to facilitate to the utmost their entrance when they come 

 home with their heavy burdens. 



If this precaution is neglected, much valuable time and 

 many lives will be sacrificed, as the colony cannot be en- 

 couraged to use to the best advantage the unpromising days 

 which so often occur in the working season. 



I have succeeded in arranging my alighting board insuch a 

 manner that the bees are sheltered against wind and wet, and 

 are able to enter the hive with the least possible loss of time. 



53. A well constructed hive ought to admit of being shut 

 up in winter, so as to consign the bees to darkness and repose. 



Nothing can be more hazardous than to shut up closely 

 an ill protected hive. Even if the bees have an abundance 

 of air, it will not answer to prevent them from flying out, 

 if they are so disposed. As soon as the warmth penetrat- 

 ing, their ihin hives tempts them to fly, they crowd to the 

 entrance, and if it is shut, multitudes worry themselves to 

 death in trying to get out, and the whole colony is liable to 

 become diseased. 



In my hives as soon as the bees are shut up for Winter, 

 they are most effectually protected against all atmospheric 

 changes, and never desire to leave their hives until the en- 

 trances are again opened, on the return of suitable weather. 

 Thus they pass the Winter in a state of almost absolute re- 

 pose ; they eat much less honey* than when wintered on the 



* A writer ia the New England Farmer for March, 1853, estimates 

 that the mild winter has been worth in the saving of fodder to the 

 farmers of New Hampshire alone, two and a half millions of dol- 

 lars ! ! By suitable arrangements, bees even in the very coldest cli- 

 mates can have all the advantages of a mild winter. 

 10 



