WINTERING.—Chapter XVIII. 
A shipping crate or box can be made into a ser- 
viceable winter packing-case for a single hive. 
with an entrance 3g inch by two 
or three inches. No matter how 
cold, the entrance should never be 
closed, as ventilation is needed as 
well as occasional cleansing flights 
when the weather will permit. 
The hive-stands for these double- 
walled: hives should have a firm 
foundation closed up all around to 
prevent wind from blowing be- 
neath them, and given a slightly 
forward tilt so that the inside of 
the hives may keep dry. During 
winter, and until! May in the northern states,-the best care one can 
give his bees is to leave them quite undisturbed, only taking heed that the 
entrances do not get clogged tight- 
_shut with ice during winter sleet 
storms. A covering of snow over 
the hive entrance, however, does 
no harm. 
Wintering in Packing-Cases. 
Those who may have their colo- 
nies in single-walled hives and 
wish to winter outdoors will need 
to provide good packing-cases. 
Floor plan of quadruple wintering case. 
The single-walled hive entire is placed in its packing-case, which may be a 
common shipping crate or box of dimensions such that about six inches of 
Hives in place on floor of quad- 
ruple packing-case. 
‘by two or three inches. 
packing of leaves or shavings may be plac- 
ed around the tops, sides and bottoms of 
the hives. A passageway the width of the 
hive and two inches deep is provided from 
the hive entrance through the packing to 
the entrance of the packing-case, this outer 
entrance being contracted to an opening 3% 
This passageway 
through the packing is provided both for 
ventilation and also to give the bees a 
chance to leave the hive and take a cleansing 
flight on warm days that may occasionally 
occur. For a cover to such a packing-case, tin, tarred paper, a tight wood- 
en cover, or other waterproof cover 
should be used in order that the pack- 
ing may keep perfectly dry. 
These cases are usually made of such 
a size as to accommodate from one to 
four colonies. 
The quadruple packing-case is strong- 
_ ly advocated by bee authorities of the 
United States Department of Agricul- 
ture. Farmers’ Bulletin No. 1012 
104 
Putting on the sides of the quadruple 
packing-case. 
