62 THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE. 



"When there is snow upon the ground, the entrances of your hives 

 should be entirely closed, and a screen or shade should be placed 

 before the hive, in case of an accidental sunny day occurring, in 

 order to prevent the bees from encountering even a single decep- 

 tive ray. 



Another danger from which you are imperatively called upon 

 to protect your bees during winter is dampness. It is to this 

 cause that the loss of many a stock is to be attributed — an in- 

 ternal dampness, generated within the hive itself. This is best 

 remedied by careful ventilation, placing a bell-glass, well covered 

 with flannel, over the aperture on the top of your hive or box, 

 removing it from time to time, and carefully wiping away from its 

 interior the damp formed by condensed vapor ; this remedy is at 

 once simple and efficacious. 



It will, perhaps, appear to some of my readers a singular ex- 

 periment, resorted to by some bee-keepers, viz., burying the hives. 

 When this is to be attempted, the hive should be buried in a 

 cool, dry, shady place, among leaves, about a foot deep, and the 

 interment should be performed during the first or second week of 

 November. 



A friend buried a hive of bees, in the first week of November, 

 about a foot deep, amongst dry leaves, &c, and disinterred it in 

 the last week of February, when it was just 2 lbs. lighter than it 

 was in November, and the bees in a lively and healthy state. 

 Another person immured a hive of bees in the earth, four feet 

 deep, in the second week of November, and at the end of 

 January it was removed, and weighed only 3 oz. less than it did 

 before it ivas buried. 



The above experiments are worthy of attention ; a shed, having 

 a northern aspect,, and which is as dry as possible, would be a 

 suitable place for further trials. The principal points by which 

 there might be cause for fear of failure, would, as in other cases, 

 be from dampness, disease for want of fresh air, and attacks from 

 vermin, &c. To prevent the former I would recommend that the 

 hives be placed on a long frame of wood, covered by a web of 

 closely-worked wire, and raised a few inches from the ground, 

 the ends of which should communicate with, and be occasionally 

 opened to, the fresh air. A long tube should also be placed 

 from the hole at the top of each hive to the open air of the shed, 

 from the upper end of which any dampness might be condensed 

 by bell-glasses, and conveyed away as already directed. 



