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two. The hive was placed in the cellar where the thermometer marked 

 a temperature of 58° F. The temperature in the compartment of the 

 hive with the lamp was 110° F. As between the board and empty 

 comb there was no difference in the temperature in the outer compart- 

 ments, while with the comb of honey the temperature was 4£ degrees 

 cooler beyond the division, showing this to be a poorer conductor of 

 heat and a better protection for the bees than either the board or empty 

 comb. 



Thus we see that for winter protection special division boards are 

 unnecessary if we but use close-fitting frames of comb or make such 

 frames close fitting in the winter time. It is also apparent that combs 

 full of honey are better as nonconductors than are empty combs. Thus 

 in nature bees are well fortified against the cold of winter, as they are 

 combs walled in on each side by several full combs, which are fastened to 

 the side of the receptacle. We also see that close-fitting frames or else 

 frames with wide or close-fitting top and end bars are better to protect 

 the bees than are the common Langstroth frames. It is easy to see 

 from the above why box hives and hives with close-fitting frames, like 

 the Heddon, are well arranged to secure success in wintering. 



CELLAR VS. OUTDOOR WINTERING. 



In the more northern latitudes of the United States bees winter bet- 

 ter as a general thing and consume less honey in the cellar than on 

 the summer stands, even though packed or kept in chaff hives. The 

 last winter was an exception. Our bees in chaff hives wintered out of 

 doors consumed less honey apparently and were certainly in better 

 condition in the spring than were those Avintered in the cellar. If we 

 could be sure of such mild winters as the last two have been, cellars for 

 wintering would certainly go out of use. Hence it is to be feared that 

 many bee-keepers will become confident, forgetting the cold and disas- 

 trous winters of the past, and soon there may come a return of the 

 severe cold and the mortality among the bees will be as terribly dis- 

 astrous as in the worst winters of the past. It is well to prepare for 

 war in time of peace. The wise bee-keeper will arrange each autumn 

 for a severe winter. Then he will be safe in any event. 



PACKING ABOUT THE HIVES IN SPRING. 



We have proved for the past two or three springs prior to that of 

 1891 that to pack closely about the hives with excelsior or other poor 

 conductors, confining the same by a large, well- covered case set around 

 the hive, has paid exceedingly well for the expense of the case and the 

 labor of adjusting it and the packing. The past spring we could see no 

 such advantage. The unprotected colonies gained as rapidly and were 

 as strong in May as were those in the hives that were protected. The 

 explanation is not far to seek. The last spring was very mild and bees 



