WINTERING BEES 17 



ed in contact with each other (for the purpose of conserving 

 I he heat of the clusters) when the space between the group 

 of hives and the winter case is filled with packing material, 

 consisting of planer shavings, forest leaves, straw, or chaff. 

 Mr. R. F. Holtermann uses a tenement made out of cheap 

 half -inch boards, and he thus describes it: 



As I now winter the bees shown in the illustrations , in connection with 

 this article, four twelve-frame Langstroth hives are wintered in an outer 

 case; two hives are placed in the ease side by side, and another two also 

 side by side, but back to back with the first pair. This makes two sides 

 of each hive have the best of winter protection — namely, the protection 

 of other hives warm with bees. 



The cases consist of a platform of half-inch boards nailed upon three 

 cleats 1x4 inches, the two at each end being on edge, to give strength. 

 The three cleats extend half an inch beyond the side of the platforfli^ and 

 are so arranged that the two at the ends project half their thiclcness 

 beyond the ends of the floor-boards. 



By this construction the half-inch siding lumber may extend down 

 past the floor, and rest upon the half-inch projections all , around, pro- 

 tecting all from, lodging water and snow. The, sides and ends of the case 

 are made of tongue- and- groove material, ^^ inch iJhick, 32 inches high, 

 and therefore make a case deep enough to hold an extracting- super on 

 top of the hive. This half-inch stuff is kept together and strengthened by 

 a cleat on the inside, 1x2 inches, and half an inch shorter than the 

 side or end is high, namely, 22^ inches. These cleats come even with 

 the top of the case, but are % inch short at the bottom, the object being 

 to allo-w the side or end to extend the half-inch below the top of the 

 platform, and rest on the end of the bottom cleats, as mentioned. 



The cover of the case is mad© of half-inch material nailed at the ends 

 to 1 X 2'%-inch cleats. These latter cleats extend down over the case. 

 They strengthen the cover ; and if the locality is Tfindy they can be 

 fastened to the case by means of hooks. The lumber is covered with 

 roofing-paper, nailed to the wood part of the cover, and made water-tight 

 by the judicious use of roofing cement. The cases, from the above de- 

 scription, will be seen to have a perfectly level or flat cover. They can 

 be made to shed water by slightly raising one side of the case. 



The bees go in and out through the fjase by means of %-inch round 

 holes. Three are recommended, but I will coniess I, have found that size 

 of entrance inadequate in the spring before removing from the case, as 

 I leave the bees packed soanetimes until clover is opening, having many 

 supers on before rempving from the case. 



The ease is set on blocks 8 to 12 inches high, one at each corner. This 

 takes them above water and ice which may lie or form on the ground. 

 There are no supports for the center cleat, as this is held up to the case 

 by means of galvanized iron straps 6x1 inch, binding it to the siding. 

 Considering the tendency to settle and heave, it would be practically 

 impossible to su;pport the case evenly at six points, and by using the 

 above device it is unnecessary. , 



Mr. G. C. Greiner goes one step further, in that he winters 

 five hives in a tenement. 



