246 AUSTRALASIAN 



to as few frames as they can cover. If the stocks are strong 

 enough at the end of autumn to fairly cover all the ten frames 

 of the Langstroth hive, no furthur reduction of space will be 

 necessary, and it will be very desirable to keep as many stocks 

 as possible up to that strength, by uniting weak colonies. If, 

 however, the stock to be wintered does not cover more than 

 six or seven frames, the space should be contracted by the use 

 of division boards, which, whether made of solid wood or of 

 frames covered with cloth and stuffed with chaff, should fit 

 close to the ends and bottom of the hive, as explained in 

 Chapter XIII. It is not, as a rule, desirable to winter a stock 

 covering less than six frames ; in such cases unite two to form; 

 one good stock (see page 250). 



PROVIDING FOOD. 



As the matter of providing winter food has already been 

 fully dealt with in Chapter IX., under the head of "Feeding 

 for Winter," I must refer the reader to that portion of the book 

 for information on the subject. 



INNER COVERING OF FRAMES. 



The nature of the covering over the frames inside of the 

 hive cover should depend upon the degree of sharp night frosts 

 to be apprehended during the winter nights. With a mean 

 winter temperature over 50°, and where the night temperature 

 seldom falls below 32°, and then only for a few hours at a time, 

 nothing more is required than the ordinary mat which is used 

 all through the year. Where severer night frosts are likely to 

 occur, a thin chaff cushion may be laid over the ordinary mat. 

 The use of a sheet of ordinary cotton wadding has been recom- 

 mended by Mr. Beloe, who has used it with advantage in the 

 Waikato district. In more southern and colder districts it may 

 be advisable to leave an additional half-story box over the main 

 hive, filled with a loose-fitting sack or cushion of chaff. 



REDUCING ENTRANCE. 



One of the great advantages of the form of Langstroth hive, 

 as herein recommended, is the facility with which the size of 

 the entrance can be enlarged or diminished by simply sliding 

 the hive forwards or backwards on the floor-board. In winter 



