WINTER TREATMENT. 14S 



than the rest. Those on the outside of the mass as it sits 

 among the combs suffer most. Sometimes they become 

 benumbed, and lose all power of motion. The rest creep 

 closer together, leaving the others to perish in their help- 

 less condition. Many hives are thus weakened for want 

 of sufficient protection in cold winters. Weak hives' are 

 often killed outright by cold. Bees need extra covering 

 in winter, and they cannot well get too much of it. Be- 

 neath the outer covering plenty of other materials should 

 be used. Soft dry hay, two or three inches thick, or 

 waste cotton, or tailors' clippings, old carpets, or grassy 

 sods, properly placed around hives, are a great protection 

 to bees in winter. 



The seeds of consumption, and other diseases of the 

 human frame, have been sometimes sown at a date more 

 ancient than we think about ; and so the " bad luck " of 

 many bee-keepers in the summer time could be traced to 

 their bad management during the winter season. Warmth 

 as well as dryness for bees is of prime importance in 

 fevery apiary in which profit is sought. 



About the end of September, when aU stocks have 

 received some additional bees, and feeding, if necessary, 

 they should be neatly plastered to their boards with some 

 kind of mortar, and then covered up as described. The 

 doors of the hives are to be contracted at this time. No 

 more attention is necessary for five or sis months, save 

 that of keeping the bees inside their hives when snow is 

 on the ground. But here let us say that bees breathe 

 and require fresh air in winter as well as summer, and 

 that they prefer to go abroad to evacuate; hence care 

 and thoughtfulness are required in closing their doors to 

 keep them in. Bees in wooden hives soon perish if their 

 doors be closely shut. Bees in straw hives will be suf- 

 focated too if their doors be closely shut for some time, 

 if they have been crowded in autumn by the addition of 



