THE APIARY 



147 



Over the summer quilt place a woolen quilt or piece of carpet or 

 other 'woolen material, and abo^e this place an old bag filled with chaff 

 (or other absorbing material) to absorb the moisture arising from the 

 hive. It is neceesary to secure upward ventilation through the holes 

 near the top of the upper box without a draft. 



This will absorb the moisture generated by the bees, thus 

 keeping the oombs dry and free from frost, while it permits the 

 foul air to pass off so gradually that cold currents within the 

 hive are avoided. Stocks standing in exposed situations, may 

 be greatly benefited by enclosing the hives (except the entrances) 

 with caps made of flags or rye straw, being careful to exclude 

 the mice. Set up a broad board to shade the hive, and especially 

 the entrance, during the middle part of the day. If this be 

 done, the bees will seldom leave the hive when the air is cool 

 enough to chill them. "When a judicious method of swarming 

 has been pursued, and the colonies properly cared for, they 

 should be populous and well provisioned for winter, requiring 

 little trouble in preparing, or risk in keeping them safely through 

 till spring. Such stocks, if shielded from the piercing wintry 

 winds, and properly ventilated, will pass a Siberian winter unin- 

 jured. Bees should not be disturbed during winter, except at 

 the close of every long spell of cold weather ; when, if the air 

 be warm enough for them to fly without being chilled, open all 

 the entrances to their full capacity, allowing the rays of the sun 

 to strike the alighting board, when the bees will fly out, void 

 their feces and return, without loss, to the hive. 



