PREPARING FOR WINTER. 1 25 



will have damp, moldy, unhealthy combs. If there 

 is put over the combs, on the frames, a porous ab- 

 sorbent covering, this will take up the moisture as 

 it arises from the bees, and give the hive sufficient 

 ventilation. 



4. Many people suppose that bees freeze up in 

 the winter; that after cold weather comes they may 

 remain frozen for weeks, or, it may be, months. 

 This is a mistake. Bees that live through the 

 winter do not freeze. A frozen bee is as effectually 

 dead as a frozen human being. As cold weather 

 comes on the bees gather in a compact mass in the 

 centre of the hive. Their honey supplies them with 

 food. This food is the fuel that feeds the little 

 vital fire in each of them. By their being in a dense 

 cluster this heat is kept from radiating, and thus 

 the mass of bees is kept above freezing temperature, 

 however cold may be the winter, even in northern 

 latitudes. The wise bee-keeper can do much to 

 help his little friends in their battle against winter. 

 He can give them good, close hives ; can surround 

 these hives with non-conducting material, and so 

 aid in confining the heat generated by the bees ; 

 and can put the hives into a suitable store-house, 

 or cellar, where he can keep the temperature con- 

 stantly at about forty degrees. Bees so cared for 

 will winter perfectly, and come out in the spring 

 healthy, active, strong. As they will keep rearing 



