WINTERING BEES. 217 



Again, it is of some moment to see that there are 

 no considerable apertures in the coverings of the 

 frames, or in the corners of the hive, by which a 

 current of warm air out of, and cold air into, the 

 hive may be set up. 



Once more, if cushions of chaff be placed behind 

 the frames, to fill up some of the empty parts of the 

 hive, an additional security will be furnished against 

 the lowering of the temperature. 



In order still further to prevent separation from 

 the cluster, and unnecessary activity, the most skilled 

 apiarians recommend that, in autumn, holes should 

 be made through the combs, near their tops, to serve 

 as passages from one to another, as they are emptied 

 of honey, without the necessity of the bees going 

 down to the bottoms of the combs, in order to reach 

 the other sides or different combs. 



Another point of great importance in wintering 

 bees, is the prevention of the moisture, produced by 

 their breathing, from condensing in the hive. It 

 should either be allowed to escape by upward ven- 

 tilation, as strongly recommended by Langstroth, or 

 by laying over the frames of wooden hives a porous 

 material, which at the same time prevents the escape 

 of heat. Light matting, covered with thicknesses of 

 house-flannel or old blanketing, will answer the 

 purpose very well. The constant evaporation from 

 the upper surface will prevent dampness to any 

 serious degree in the lower thicknesses of material. 

 For ourselves, we prefer the method which most 

 effectually prevents the escape of heat, while also 

 securing that vapour shall not be unduly condensed. 



The question of ' ventilation, especially in winter, 



