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 NovembtT 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. 



