350 



WINTERING. 



which ill Winter so powerfully exhaust their animal heat; 

 for, like human beings, if sheltered from the wind, they will 

 endure a low temperature far better than a continuous current 

 of very much warmer air. 



In some parts of the West, where bees suffer much from 

 cold winds, their hives are protected, in Winter, by sheaves 

 uf straw, fastened so as to defend them from both cold and 

 wet. With a little ingenuity, farmers might easily turn their 

 waste straw to a valuable account in sheltering their bees. 



Xut c.nly can straw be used for this purpose with much 

 service, but also forest leaves, corn fodder, and rushes. Snow 

 is found to be a very good shelter, provided its successive 

 melting and freezing does not interfere with the necessaiy 

 ventilation. It must be removed from the entrance on the 

 approach of a warm day. 



Fig. 128 bis. 



WINTER PACKI.\-G AROUND THE HIVE. 



Mr. Geo. H. Beard, of Winchester, Mo., safely wintered 

 ninety-three colonies out of ninety-six, in the severe Winter 

 of 1884-5, in the lower apartment of two-story Langstroth 

 hives, by removing the oil-cloth and replacing it with coarse 



