360 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



injured them in the least degree, because, reposing in a low and 

 equable temperature, they had consumed proportionably littlo 

 honey, and remained without, excitement or disturbance during 

 the -whole period. I am now fully convinced that bees may 

 remain confined in this manner during the most protracted 

 Winter, not only without injury, but with positive benefit, as 

 they are altogether secure from the always detrimental, and 

 frequently ruinous, effects of exposure to the vicissitudes of the 

 weather in our variable climate. 



" To simplify the construction of the clamps, I inade my last 

 one longer and lower than the one I prepared the previous Fall; 

 and I was thus able to apply the successive covers, or mantles, 

 more easily and conveniently. I also dispensed with the chimney, 

 and could thus close the top more regularly and perfectly, laying 

 over the apex, boards weighted down with stones to keep them in 

 place. I found no disadvantage resulting from discarding the 

 chimney, as the ventilating-tubes enabled me still to regulate the 

 internal temperature, and give the bees a sufiicient supply of 

 fresh air. ' I also enlarged the air-chamber, making it three feet 

 deep, as before, by only thirty inches broad, and lengthening it so 

 as to extend the whole length of the interior diameter of the 

 clamp. In every other respect, the construction remained the 

 same."' 



When hives .are wintered in a special repository, I 

 should advise giving them upward ventilation. If they 

 are in cellars or rooms, the upper cover may he entirely, 

 removed ; and, if jjut in clamps, then it may be fastened, 

 as advised on page 338j and some air be allowed to enter at 

 the lower part of the hive. 



In all the northern parts of this country, it is very 

 obvious'that those who mean to establish large Apiaries 

 will have to so winter their bees, that they shall not be 

 exposed to the usual atmospheric changes. What way 

 precisely is the best can only be determined by careful 

 and long-continued experiments. These ought not to be 

 conducted so as to hazard too much in one venture. 



