io8 A Modern Bee-Farm 



hive, a circular hole should be cut in the centre of the floor 

 board, about 2 inches in diameter, which will greatly assist 

 ventilation, while providing the inmates with a ready means 

 for disposing of their refuse, dead bees, &c. Failing either of 

 the foregoing, the frames can be raised by placing f-inch 

 strips under the projecting ears. 



Dysentery and other ills are brought on by the too com- 

 mon neglect of this matter, dead bees drop to the floor and 

 clog the too shallow space under the frames, then getting into 

 a mass ventilation is impeded, and when a fine day does 

 occur the bees have enough to do to find the entrance, while 

 the dead and rubbish remain untouched, only to be added to 

 during the next cold spell. Insufficient ventilation and foul 

 matter now begin to tell upon the constitution of the popula- 

 tion, and there is little chance that the stock will ever be of 

 much use unless it has immediate attention, as many of the 

 bees are now unable to fly when warm days do offer them a 

 chance ; particularly is this the case where the frames run 

 across the entrance with double walls. With single walls and 

 the frames end on to the entrance the bees are not so liable to 

 be blocked in. 



Covering above Frames. 



Much uncertainty exists among novices ~as to whether the 

 frames should be covered with porous or non-porous material ; 

 but, dear Reader, it is just this : if you use porous material 

 above your winter cluster, an entrance not more than three 

 inches in width should be allowed ; if a non-poroUs covering 

 such as American oilcloth be used next above the frames (of 

 course with warm material above that), then a wider entrance 

 must be provided according to the strength of the colony. 



A perfect 'Winter Arrangement 



of the combs is secured in the manner already shewn with 

 reference to the description of the Conqueror hive. 



