WINTERING BEES. 299 



make it dark, and secure as even a temperature as possible. 

 Some bees will be wasted, yet not as many as on the stand. 



BDBYmG BEES. 



The conditions under which it is advisable to bury 

 them, are sometimes found. A dry sandy soil is best. 

 The pit should be dug where there is perfect drainage, 

 and the hives should be surrounded on every side with 

 straw, enough to absorb all the moisture from the bees, 

 if not very much of that from the ground. The hive 

 should be inverted, or laid on the side. As the bees 

 produce some heat, it is not necessary to bury quite as 

 deep as would keep potatoes from freezing. It is not ad- 

 visable to put a great many in one pit, as there would be 

 too much heat ; also it would be necessary to take them 

 all out at one time, very expeditiously, and the difficulty 

 of their mixing, would be encountered. Make several 

 pits, if a large number is to be wintered ia this wa^. 

 The labor is but little more, and there are certainly 

 several advantages. A very few would winter better in a 

 pit than in a room or cellar. In the first case they can be 

 covered with earth, till properly warm, but in the other, 

 they must keep themselves warm. 



One object in protecting bees, is to save honey. The 

 colder they are, the more they consume. The horse or 

 ox consumes' his food to replace the warmth that is 

 thrown off on the cold air. The quantity seems to be re- 

 gulated by the degree of cold ; they refuse a portion of 

 tempting provender in the warm days of spring, and 

 greedily, devour large quantities in the pelting storm. 

 The farmer houses his cattle in winter on the score of 

 economy. The same consideration should prevail with 

 reference to his bees. 



