340 WINTERING BEES. 



was put on tlie inside, a space of four inches between 

 the siding and lath was filled -with saw-dust; under 

 the bottom I constructed a passage for the admission 

 of air, from the north side ; another over head for its 

 exit, to be closed and opened at pleasure, in moderate 

 weather, to give them fresh air, but closed when cold, 

 and so arranged as to exclude all the light. 



A partition was extended across near the centre. 

 This was to prevent disturbing the whole by letting'' 

 in light when carrying them out in the spring. By 

 closing the door of this partition, those in one room 

 only need be disturbed at once. 



MANNER OP STOWING AWAT BEES. 



Shelves to receive the hives were arranged in tiers 

 one above the other ; they were loose, to be taken 

 down and put up at pleasure. Suppose we begin at 

 the back end : the first row is turned directly on the 

 floor, a shelf is then put across a few inches above,, 

 them, and filled, and then another shelf, still above, 

 when we again begin on the floor, and continue thus 

 till the room is full ; or if the room is not to be filled, 

 the shelves may be fixed around the sides of the room 

 in two or three courses. This last arrangement will 

 make it very convenient to inspect them at any time 

 through the winter, yet they should be disturbed as 

 little as possible. The manner of stowing each one is 

 to open the holes in the top, then lay down two square 

 sticks, such as are made by splitting a board, of suit- 

 able length, into pieces about an inch wide. The hive 

 is inverted on these ; it gives a free circulation through 



