The cover should fit closely enough to exclude mice, but 
should have openings underneath sufficient for the air to 
draw through over the packing and take away moisture. 
arising from the bees. This cover is overlaid with prepared 
roofing. 
, 
b— 5 aye 
r 4 
fj - 454 
i 
ag 
—_ | i 
7 
Figure 3—Outline of 4-Hive Wintering Box showing weather proof 
joint at corners. : 
PACKING .THE HIVES. . 
--- When the four hives are in place with bridges on, the 
sides and ends of the box-are set up and fastened at each 
corner with three clarnps, hooks or wire nails. The bridges 
‘must fit closely to prevent. packing material clogging en- 
trances. If the bees can reach this material at all they will 
dig out quantities of it and perhaps choke their own entrance. 
The summer cloths or honey-boards are ‘next removed and 
replaced by feeder-boards (to be described later) with burlap 
spread over them and. two or three thickness of newspaper 
-over that. The packing is then filled in and crowded down 
well on all sides until the box is filled to within two inches 
of the top. At no time must this material touch the roof. 
‘The air must circulate freely over it to prevent dampness. 
collecting. : uae 
The best packing material is cork ‘chips, which can 
-sometimes be obtained from fruit stores handling Spanish. 
9 
