WINTERING BEES. 269 



Each of these plans has its advocates, its advantages 

 and disadvantages. 



My object has been to ascertain the best practical 

 method of wintering bees ; one best calculated to 

 suit the circumstances of the greatest number of 

 bee-keepers. I have tried all the different plans sug- 

 gested that gave promise of success, and have found 

 the most uniform success in wintering our bees in 

 the open air, having them properly protected from 

 wind and snow, lining the sides and tops of the hives 

 with straw mats (removing a comb from each side in 

 movable comb hives), and ventilating properly to 

 promote the escape of vapor and moisture. By this 

 arrangement we combine all the advantages possessed 

 by the straw hive (and all apiarians agree that they 

 are a superior kind of hives for wintering bees in,) 

 with the wooden hives, which are more easily con- 

 structed. 



In the first place, our hives are constructed so that 

 of themselves they afford the bees a very considerable 

 degree of protection from the effects of winds and 

 snows in winter. The bottom board is an inclined 

 plane, and stationary, the openings being condensed 

 for wintering, having no openings on the back part of 

 the hive, and consequently no current of wind passing 

 through or under the hive, as is the case where hives 

 are open and raised up from the bench, giving the 

 wind a clear sweep between it and the stool, and 

 often drifting the snow up between the combs and 

 constantly carrying off the heat generated by the 

 bees. Our hives are so constructed, that a current of 

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