296 Box for PacUng. 



queens, a failure in the honey yield may cause breeding to 

 cease. In such cases, we have only to feed as directed under 

 the head of feeding. 



TO SECUEE AND MAINTAIN THE PEOFEK TEMPEEATUBE. 



We ought also to provide against extremes of temperature. 

 It is desirable to keep the temperature between 35° and 60° 

 F. , through the entire winter, from November to April. If 

 no cellar or house is at hand, this may be accomplished as 

 follows : Some pleasant, dry day in late October or early No- 

 vember, raise the stand and place straw beneath; then sur- 

 round the hive with a box a foot outside the hive, with 

 movable^ op, and open on the east ; or else have a long wooden 

 tube, opposite the entrance, to permit flight; this tube 

 should be six or eight inches square to permit easy examina- 

 tion in winter. The same end may be gained by driving 

 stakes and putting boards around. Then we crowd between 

 the box and the hive either cut straw, chaff or shavings. 

 After placing a good thickness of cut straw above the hive, 

 lay on the cover of the box, or cover with boards. This pre- 

 serves against changes of temperature during the winter, and 

 also permits the bees to fly, if it becomes necessary from a 

 protracted period of warm weather. I have thus kept all our 

 bees safely during two of the disastrous winters. This plan 

 usually succeeds well, but will fail in a very severe winter 

 like that of 1880-81. As some may wish to try, and pos- 

 sibly to adopt it; I will describe the box used at our College, 

 which costs but one dollar and is convenient to store away in 

 summer. 



BOX FOE PACKING. 



The sides of this (Fig. 163, a, a) facing east and west are 

 three and a half feet long, two feet high at the south end, 

 and two and a half feet at the north. They are in one piece, 

 which is secured by nailing the boards which form them to 

 cleats, which are one inch from the ends. The north end 

 (Fig. 163, b) is three feet by two and a half feet, the south 

 (Fig. 163, b), three feet by two, and made the same as are the 

 sides. The slanting edges of the side (Fig. 163, a, a) are made 

 by using for the upper boards, the strips formed by sawing 

 diagonally from corner to corner a board six inches wide and 



