110 



MANUAL OP APICULTLTRE. 



duriDg quite cool weather late in October or November not less than 

 six spaces between the brood combs, and preferably eight or nine 

 spaces, shall be occupied by a good number of bees, or that the cluster 

 shall be at such a time not less than 8, and preferably 10 to 12, inches 

 in diameter; the stores should consist of 30 x)ounds of well-ripened 

 honey or thick sugar sirup, stored and mostly sealed over and about 

 the bees; since in a long, shallow hive the heat is too diffused, combs 

 much longer than deep should be on end for the winter, to enable 

 the bees to economize their natural warmth; free access of pure air, 

 but without the creatiou of drafts, hence the entrance should be indi- 

 rect or screened in some manner; the ventilation should i:)ermit the 

 gradual passiug away of the moisture-laden air of the hive, but not 



Fig. 75.— An apiary iu Vermont— winter view. {Reproduced from pnotograph.) 



the escai)e of heat, heuce 6 or more inches (in the coldest portions of the 

 United States 10 or 12 inches) of dry, porous material, soft and warmth- 

 retaiuiug, should be on all sides of the cluster and near to it, the whole 

 being protected by waterproof walls from anj^ access of outside 

 moisture. Care to establish in all cases conditions similar to the above 

 before bees cease flying in the autumn will insure the apiarist against 

 any serious losses in wintering out of doors, even in the severest 

 portions of our country. 



In the extreme South, where bees can fly out at any time of the year, 

 little extra i)recaution is needed for the winter beyond seeing that the 

 stores do not become exhausted during a drought or a protracted rain, 

 when no honey can be gathered. Just in proportion to the severity 

 and length of the winter season the above general rules may be looked 

 upon as applicable, always bearing in mind, however, that in the 

 variable climate of the middle section of the country many of the pre- 



