WlXtEBING. 247 



bees hare plenty of proj)er food, and are kept suitably 

 dry.* But, if proper care is taken to occasionally re- 

 move the roof, and often the cap or cover of the hive, 

 and allow the inside to receive the direct rays of the sun 

 to dry ofE aU moisture, success in wintering wiU be much 

 more certain. If the case or cap be adjusted loosely, it 

 will afford the moisture better opportunity to escape. 

 Care must, of course, be exercised in taking these pre- 

 cautions not to jar, or in any way arouse the bees to 

 activity ; nor should the hive be disturbed at any time 

 when the temperature would induce the bees to fly. At 

 Buch times, I would prevent their flying, by shading the 

 hive from the sun. 



IX-DOOK WIirrEEES'G. 



Dry, pure air, and a proper and even temperature, are 

 two prime essentials in successful wintering. These cer- 

 tainly can not be so perfectly controlled out-of-doors as 

 in a suitable in-door repository. 



ABTIFICIAI, HEAT. 



The necessity of being able to supply artificial heat to 

 aid in securing proper ventilation, temperature, and free- 

 dom from moisture is very generally conceded. I have 

 had excellent opportunities, whUe purchasing bees in va- 

 rious sections, for noticing the circnmstances under 

 which they had been wintered, as well as the effect upon 

 their condition in spring, and found that in proportion 

 as they were aided by artificial heat, they had wintered 

 well, other conditions being equal. Tery often, when a 

 cellar was dry, and a constant fire was kept above, the 

 most satisfactory results were attained. Mr. J. H. Buck- 

 lin, of Little Falls, X. Y., wintered bees in a room, par- 

 titioned off in a cellar, with a brick wall between it and 



* 1 have found buckwheat chaff to be preferable to other materials for pacbdii^ 



