WARMTH, DRYNESS AND QUIET FOR WINTER. 109 
have given rise to thousands of experiments based on all sorts of theo- 
ries, and innumerable losses have resulted. The matter is really more 
complheated than would seem at first thought. The warm air about the 
bodies of the bees (the winter temperature of the cluster being about 
72° F.) coming in contact with the cold surfaces of combs of honey in 
ordinary hives, or with the inner walls of such hives, condensation and 
deposition of moisture occurs. During severe weather this accumulates 
in the shape of hoarfrost, which, melting with a rise of temperature, 
trickles down over the combs, the walls of the hive, and the bees them- 
selves, and, entering the honey cells through the somewhat porous cap- 
ping, seurs the honey with which it mixes. The soured food, dampness, 
and chilling of the bees combine to bring on diarrhea, which is sure to 
weaken and decimate the colony if it does not exterminate it. To 
avoid these troubles the surplus moisture of the hive must be carried 
away by free ventilation, which at the same time supplies pure air, but 
which does not create drafts in the 
hive nor permit such an escape of 
heat as will chill the cluster through. 
Straw hives (fig. 72) do this well; also 
the forms shown in figs. 73 and 74 
if well packed over the combs and 
ventilated above the packing. 
(5) There should be no manipulation 
out of season.—Breaking up the clus- 
ter and exposing the individual bees Fic. 74. _ init walled Tee Banoted to out- 
and their combs toa low tempera- door wintering as well as summer use below 
, oe: 40° north latitude in the United States. 
ture, as well as causing them to gorge Thickness of each wall, 2 inch; space be- 
themselves with honey when an Op- tween walls, 2 inches, packed with dry chaff 
2 r . or ground cork. (Original.) 
portunity for a cleansing flight may 
not oceur soon, are also causes which bring on diarrheal difficulties. 
Feeding to complete the winter stores, when necessary, should be done 
soon after the last honey flow, so that the bees will settle down for 
the winter on the approach of cool autumn days. After this they are 
better off if left undisturbed until the final work of preparing them 
for winter is done, which, if the hive is well arranged, will be no 
material disturbance to the bees. It is always preferable not to be 
obliged to touch the brood combs or disturb the cluster when the 
weather is too cold for the bees to fly freely. 
OUTDOOR WINTERING. 
A consideration of the requirements above mentioned leads at once 
to the essential features of any plan of outdoor wintering that may be 
followed in the colder portions of our country with uniform success, 
namely, the presence in the colony of a vigorous queen less than two 
years old; a good cluster of healthy bees bred the latter part of the 
season, that is, of sufficient numbers so that when closely clustered 
