FIFTV YEARS AMONG THE BEES 29 



prepared for winter, and to be sure of being with them through 

 the winter. 



Six of the 40 colonies were lost in the preceding winter, and 

 the remaining 34 had given 1600 pounds of honey, mostly ex- 

 tracted, and had been increased to 99. 



Fig. 8 — Carrying with Rope. 



IMPROVED WINTERING. 



The advantage of being home through the winter was ap- 

 parent, for in the next four winters the average loss was only 2 

 per cent, while for the preceding four winters it had been nine 

 times as great. A now factcor, however, had come in, to which 

 part of the change was to be attributed. There was chance 

 enough to ventilate the cellar, for two chimneys ran from ihe 



