WINTERING BEES 25 



ill contact with the sealed honey. We have seen this condi- 

 tion almost every winter in our yard. 



Still again, we have often found dead colonies where some 

 of our newer men in the bee-yard had disturbed the combs, 

 putting a solid comb of honey right down through the center 

 of the winter nest. This made two bunches of bees; and 

 both, being too small, died. 



When it comes to indoor wintering, especially where the 

 cellar temperature does not go below 45 P., a winter nest is 

 not so vitally necessary. But if the temperature goes down 

 below 45, then the absence of a winter nest may mean the 

 death of a colony. 



Nature has worked out this problem of wintering bees; 

 and when we tamper with her plans we tamper with our 

 pocketbook. While we can do certain things contrary to 

 nature, we can not interfere with her plan in the arrange- 

 ment of the combs. 



yON-POBOUS COVERS OB ABSORBING CUSHIOXS 

 OVEB THE CLUSTEB OF BEES. 



There has been considerable discussion in the bee-journals 

 over the question of whether there should be loose porous 

 absorbing-cushions or other material placed above the cluster 

 of bees so that the moisture from a cluster can pass up into 

 the packing, or whether, on the other hand, the top of the 

 hive should have a thin board or super cover on top. In the 

 milder climates it seems to be pretty well proven that the 

 wood cover over the bees brings the bees through in better 

 shape. In the colder climates, such as Nofthern Michigan, 

 Canada, Northern Wi'sconsin, Minnesota, and 'Northern New 

 York, a porous covering seems to have somewhat the pref- 

 erence, although we find advocates of the solid-cover prin- 

 ciple in these localities. If there is danger of the entrance 

 becoming closed by deep snows or iee for weeks at a time, 

 upward ventilation through porous packing would probably 

 be safer, for bees ifiust have air. 



