332 WINTERING, 
combs, should be removed from the hive previous to cold 
weather, as the bees, which may cluster in them, would 
starve at the first cold spell without being able to join the 
cluster. We have seen a whole colony perish, during a 
cold fortnight in December, because they had occupied an 
extracting story (which had but little honey in it, and had 
been left on by neglect), although there was plenty of 
honey in the hive, a few inches below them. The space, left 
empty by the removal of the combs, should be filled with a 
warm material placed between the side of the hive and the 
division-board. 
631. As some bees which cluster on the outside combs 
are often unable to join the others in cold weather, it would 
be well to have holes, or Winter passages, through the 
combs, such as will allow them to pass readily, in cold 
weather, from one to another; but if these holes are made 
before they feel the need of them, they will frequently 
close them. It is suggested that small tubes made of elder, 
the pith of which has been removed, would make permanent 
Winter-passages, if inserted in the comb, at any time. On 
a cold November day, Mr. Langstroth found bees, in a hive 
without any Winter-passages, separated from the main 
cluster, and so chilled as not to be able to move; while, 
with the thermometer many degrees below zero, he repeat- 
edly noticed, in other hives, at one of the holes made in the 
comb, a cluster, varying in size, ready to rush out at the 
slightest jar of their hive. 
It has been found quite practical to give them a passage 
above the combs, or between the combs and the straw-mat, 
or quilt, above them. The Hill device is very good for this 
purpose, although we find that the bees often have bridge- 
combs in sufficient quantity above the frames to give them 
the necessary passage. 
