98 How to Prepare Bees for the Winter. 
tow or ftraw, fhould be rolled up about four 
inches above the entry, which will permit the 
bees to get in thereat ; for the lefs that is un- 
covered of the hive, the drier and warmer it 
will be, which fhould be aimed at in all featons, 
efpecially in winter. 
The beft of all covers for hives, however, 
that I have yet feen or heard of, are fuch as I 
ordered a potter to make for me of burnt earth- 
en ware. They are made in the form of a 
hive, pretty ftrong, about 21 inches wide, and 
12 deep; with a circular edging turned up at. 
the fkirts, and a fpout about an inch in length. 
Thefe, being placed above the pob tow, or ftraw, 
keep it clofe to the hive, and may eafily be tak- 
en off or put on at pleafure. The fpout be- 
ing placed behind, all the water runs off at the 
back of the hive. ‘Fhe hives, when thus co- 
vered, may be compared to a man’s head with 
a wig and hat upon it; the pob tow refembling 
the wig, and the earthen cover the hat. The 
only objection to thefe covers is, that they are 
brittle, and eafily broken; but the care, that 
every good bee-mafler will readily beftow upon 
his hives in any cafe, is fufficient to preferve 
them from accidents of this kind. I fold a- 
bove 30 of thefe covers to a gentleman in Nor- 
thumberland 
