WIXaERIXG BKES. S41 



the hive, and carries off all the moisture as fast as 

 generated. 



TEMPERATURE OF ROOM. 



The temperature of such a room will vary accord- 

 ing to the number and strength of the stocks put in ; 

 100 or more would be very sure to keep it above . the 

 freezing point at all times. Putting a very few into 

 such a room, and depending on the bees to make it 

 warm enough, would be of doubtful utility. If these 

 means will not keep the proper temperature, proba- 

 bly some other method would be better. All full 

 stocks would db well enough, as they would almost 

 any way. Yet I shall recommend housing them- 

 whenever practicable. If the number of stocks is 

 few, let the room be proportionably small.* It is the 

 smallest families that are most trouble : if they are too 

 cold, it may be known by bees leaving the hive in 

 cold weather, and spots of excrement on the combs ; 

 they should then have some additional protection ; 

 close part or all of the holes in the top, cover the open 

 bottom partially or wholly, and confine to the hive as 

 much as possible the animal heat ; when these means 

 fail, it may be necessary to take them to a warm room, 

 during the coldest weather. 



* As an additional proof that this method of inverting hives in the 

 house for winter is valuable, I would say that Mr. Miner, author of 

 the American Bee-Keeper's Manual, seems fully to appreciate it.' In 

 the fall of 1850, 1 communicated to him this method ; giving my rear 

 eons for preferring it to the cold method recommended in his Manual. 

 The trial of one winter, it appears, satisfied him of its Superiority, so 

 much so that within a year from that time he published an essay re- 

 commending it ; but advised confining the bees with muslin, &o. 



