474 APPENDIX. 



the under side of the spare honey board, neither frost 

 nor dampness will ever gather upon it, to annoy the bees. 

 Holes for upward ventilation may be cut out in the paper ; 

 but I prefer to drive lacks into the four corners of the board,* 

 so as to elevate it about half an inch. The paper should be 

 removed and the honey-board shut down, in the Spring. 



Since the chapter on Protection of Hives, went to the 

 press, owing to a delay in printing the rest of the work, 

 caused by the Author's ill health, an opportunity has been 

 afforded for nearly two Winters, of experimenting further on 

 the best mode of wintering bees. While the results of last 

 Winter, taught me the need of upward ventilation, and a 

 more free communication among the combs, the numerous 

 experiments of this Winter, have convinced me that I have 

 over-estimated the benefits to be derived from thoroughly 

 protected hives. To-day, (Jan. 14, 1857,) I have opened 

 three hives and carefully examined the combs, and find 

 their condition to be as follows : (No. 1.) A good slock of 

 bees, in a thin hive, with abundant upward ventilation, the 

 spare honey-board being entirely removed. In ihe main 

 hive there was a very little frost, (the thermometer this A.M. 

 being 10| degrees below zero,) and the bees were dry and 

 lively. The central combs contained eggs and unsealed 

 worms. (No. 2.) A stock eqally strong, in a thin hive, long 

 enough to hold 18 frames. The bees with their combs, occu- 

 pied the eight central frames ; the oilier frames had no 

 combs. This hive had no upward ventilation, and contain- 

 ed much frost. The central combs had eggs and unsealed 

 worms. (No. 3.) A hive most thoroughly protected by 

 dead air spaces all arounfl, and having upward ventilation, 

 the holes in its honey board being all left open. This hive 

 was about as frosty as No. 1, and its central combs had 

 eggs and worms, a few of which were sealed over. It had 

 a better slock of bees than the others, but appeared to have 

 commenced breeding only a few days earlier. 



The results of these examinations show, that where there 



» To-day, (Jan. 16th,) the thermometer being below zero, I exam- 

 iiied a stock in a thin hive, the honey-board being elevated, as above. 

 The hive was free from frost, and the bees very lively. 



