CHAPTER XIII 



WINTER PREPARATION 



The novice who plans to keep but a few 

 bees will do well to buy some of the double- 

 walled hives now on the market, and thus re- 

 duce his winter preparation to the minimum. 

 The ordinary single-walled hive provides in- 

 sufficient protection in any of the Northern 

 States and it is quite probable that the bees 

 would be better for some extra protection in 

 most of the Southern States. With the double- 

 walled hive it is but a matter of a few minutes 

 at the time of the last summer examination, to 

 put the chaff tray in place over the frames, 

 contract the entrance with the entrance blocks, 

 replace the cover, and the job is done. 'No fur- 

 ther attention needs to be paid to them, except 

 to see that the entrances do not get clogged with 

 ice during winter storms, until time to make the 

 spring examination. In cold climates addi- 

 tional protection should be given. 



154 



