9 



It is convenient to make the case collapsible. The sides may be held together 

 by hooks, or they may be held together more firmly by means of a thumb-screw placed 

 near the top and operated from the inside in combination with dowels in the floor 

 to prevent spreading below, the thumb screws and dowels to be held in cleats fixed on 

 the sides. 



The construction of the flight holes in the case needs particular attention. They 

 should be cut in the sides of the case opposite the entrances of the hives, but at least 

 a foot apart. In winter, the flight holes should be of the smallest size that permits 

 the passage of bees without danger of blocking, but in spring, a considerably larger 

 size is necessary. A satisfactory way to meet these conditions is to cut the hole four 

 to eig'ht inches wide by one inch high and to have a close-fitting piece of wood revolving 

 on a screw which will reduce it to one inch by three-eighths of an inch, or three- 

 eighths by three-eighths of an inch. There should be no projecting ledge beneath the 

 winter entrance to lodge snow and ice. 



The packing material should be of small size, supplying numerous dead air 

 spaces, such as planer shavings or dried leaves that have been kept for at least a year. 

 The material on top may be placed in a large sheet or a large bag for easy removal 

 and replacement to permit of the occasional examination of the colonies in spring. 



Canadian conditions require cases of somewhat different construction to 

 those that are used in many parts of the United States. In our experiments at 

 Ottawa, it has been found that the entrance is too small in spring if it consists 

 of holes only three-eighths of an inch in diameter. It has been found that the aspect 

 of the entrance makes little or no difference to results. It may face north, south, east 

 or west. IsTo drifting of bees from one hive to another to matter has taken place 

 provided flight holes have been a reasonable distance apart, say 18 inches. Indeed, 

 a smaller distance has been found satisfactory if a stake is driven into the ground 

 between the two entrances. So far, extra thick packing has not been found particu- 

 larly advantageous. 



The bees should be packed in the winter cases in September, preferably before 

 the fall feeding is done. To avoid loss of bees, the hives, if standing in rows, should 

 be gradually brought together during the late summer so as to occupy nearly the same 

 position and face the same way as they will in the case. A less satisfactory plan, 

 advisable only when the honey flow ends early, is to delay moving the hives and 

 packing them in the cases until the bees have been confined to the hives by chilly 

 weather for two or three weeks. In placing the hives in the case, the covers should he 

 removed in order to bring the hives close together, but in a cold region, it is advisable 

 to leave over the comhs a board or oilcloth quilt to prevent the escape of too much 

 heat and moisture. Passages for the bees over the combs may be provided by placing 

 sticks under the quilt. In order to prevent the passage between the hive entrance 

 and flight holes in the case becoming choked with dead bees in winter it should bo 

 at least five-eighths inch deep. 



It is not necessary to remove the snow surrounding the cases during the winter, 

 because the bees are not likely to smother even if buried deeply in it. In some places, 

 however, it is an advantage to remove the snow towards the end of March. 



The bees should not be removed from the cases until spring is well advanced. 

 The extra good protection afforded in spring by the packing, especially during the 

 first few weeks of breeding, is one of the main advantages of outside wintering. It 

 is a good practice to leave the hives in the case until the cases become inconvenient 

 for tiering supers (there is usually room for the first super). This may not be until 

 June. 



