282 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



hive. There are but two points gained in the broad 

 flat hives, that I ever could discover : the first, is a 

 greater surface to put honey boxes in to obtain the 

 surplus honey ; the second, they are not so apt to be 

 blown over by high winds. 



To the first of these I would say, bees will store 

 just as much honey in a hive thirteen inches square 

 as they will in a hive twice that size. This can easily 

 be tested. To the second point I reply, that all those 

 who merit success in bee keeping will so protect their 

 bees as to suffer no inconvenience from using oblong 

 hives. But the advantages derived from such hives 

 in wintering bees in the open air, exceeds tenfold 

 their disadvantages. 



Broad flat hives are perhaps better adapted to win- 

 tering bees in, when kept in warm, dark rooms ; and 

 they are more convenient for storing away on shelves. 

 When thus kept during winter, the shape of the hive 

 is of less importance, so far as wintering is concerned. 



WINTERING BEES IN DARK ROOMS. 



I can say but little about this mode of wintering 

 bees. That they can be thus kept through the winter 

 does not admit of a doubt, and that they are thus 

 kept by some apiarians, is equally true ; but that it 

 is the best plan for the majority of bee-keepers to 

 adopt, permit me at present to doubt. 



To winter them successfully in a room, requires a 

 degree of care and watchfulness that but few are 

 willing to give them, in order to keep all right during 

 the sudden changes of weather to which our climate 



