246 AUSTRALASIAN 
to as few frames as they can cover. If the stocks are strong 
enough at the end of autumn to fairly cover all the ten frames 
of the Langstroth hive, no furthur reduction of space will be 
necessary, and it will be very desirable to keep as many stocks 
as possible up to that strength, by uniting weak colonies. Il, 
however, the stock to be wintered does not cover more than 
six or seven frames, the space should be contracted by the use 
ef division boards, which, whether made of solid wood or of 
frames covered with cloth and stuffed with chaff, should fit 
close to the ends and bottom of the hive, as explained in 
Chapter XIII. It is not, as a rule, desirable to winter a stock 
covering less than six frames ; in such cases unite two to form 
one good stock (see page 250). 
PROVIDING FOOD. 
As the matter of providing winter food has already been 
fully dealt with in Chapter IX., under the head of ‘“ Feeding 
for Winter,” I must refer the reader to that portion of the book 
for information on the subject. 
INNER COVERING OF FRAMES. 
The nature of the covering over the frames inside of the 
hive cover should depend upon the degree of sharp night frosts 
to be apprehended during the winter nights. With a mean 
winter temperature over 50°, and where the night temperature 
seldom falls below 32°, and then only for a few hours at a time, 
nothing more is required than the ordinary mat which is used 
all through the year. Where severer night frosts are likely to 
oceur, a thin chaff cushion may be laid over the ordinary mat. 
The use of a sheet of ordinary cotton wadding has been recom- 
mended by Mr. Beloe, who has used it with advantage in the 
Waikato district. In more southern and colder districts it may 
be advisable to leave an additional half-story box over the main 
hive, filled with a loose-fitting sack or cushion of chaff. 
REDUCING ENTRANCE. 
One of the great advantages of the form of Langstroth hive 
as herein recommended, is the facility with which the size ai 
the entrance can be enlarged or diminished by simply sliding 
the hive forwards or backwards on the floor-board. In winter 
