348 WINTEKING BEES. 



escapes, it should be raised a very little ; otherwise not. 

 The moisture will condense on the sides and top, when 

 it melts will follow the sides to the bottom, and pass 

 out ; the rabbeting around the top of the hive will 

 prevent its getting to the holes, and down among the 

 bees. It will be easily comprehended, that a hole be- 

 tween each two combs at the top, (as mentioned in the 

 subject of putting on the boxes,) will ventilate the hive 

 much better than where there is but one or two, or 

 where there is a row of several, and all are between 

 two combs. 



BUT LITTLE RISK WITH GOOD STOCKS. 



All good stocks may be wintered in this way, with 

 but little risk in most situations. Whether in the 

 bleak north- wind, buried in a snow-bank, or situated 

 warm and pleasant, it will make no great difference. 

 The mice cannot enter; the holes give them air, and 

 carry off moisture, &c. But second-rate stocks are not 

 equally safe in cold situations. 



EFFECT OF KBKPINa SECOND-RATE STOCKS OUT OF THE SUN. 



It has been strongly urged, without regard to the 

 strength of the stock, to keep them all out of the sun ; 

 because an occasional warm day would call out the 

 bees, when they get on the snow, and perish ; this is 

 a loss, to be sure, but there is such a thing as inducing 

 a greater one by endeavoring to avoid this. I have 

 said in another place that second rate or poor stocks 

 might occasionally starve, with plenty of stores in the 

 hive, on account of frosty combs. If the hive is kept 

 from the sun, in the cold, the periods of temperate 



