WINTERING BEES. 109 
each side of the brood section. Secure it in place by 
means of a screw at each end.* Pack the sides of the 
hive (that part occupied by the side boxes in summer) 
closely with very tine hay or straw. Pack the cap as 
full of the same matter as it can be crowded. ‘The put 
the thickness of one or two inches over the ventilator, 
fillmg up evenly, so when the cap is placed over the 
upper part, the cap and sides will be compactly filled. 
There must be no spaces left unfilled, the object being to 
secure an even temperature in the brood section, and 
absorb all moisture thrown off by the bees; and to do 
this successfully, the cap and sides must be closely 
packed throughout. When you have the cap and sides 
well packed, replace the cap, and the work is done. 
Shade the front of the hives during the winter months. 
No matter if the snow drifts over the hive so as to com- 
pletely bury it from sight, let it remain ;—your bees are 
safe. 
A neighbor of mine had fifteen stocks in Controllable 
Hives completely buried in snow over six feet deep, and 
the crust formed over them so it would bear a horse. 
They remained under the snow, from January until April 
when they thawed out, and every stock was found to be 
in first-class order. 
When there is only a small quantity of snow about the 
hive, say only enough to cover the lower entrance, and 
*To make the ventilator, get out four pieces one inch square; nail them 
together making a frame large enough to cover the brood section of Hive. 
Cover this frame with wire screen, meshes too fine to admit the passage of 
the bees. 
