PBEPAEATIOlSr OF BEES FOR OTJTDOOB WINTERIXG. 9 



desired. There is advantage in packing several colonics together, 



in order tliat they may warm each other and to reduce the cost of 



the case and the labor of puttmg it on. The bureau, therefore, has 



adopted the four-colony type of case which has been much used for 



years in all parts of the country. In this case, two colonies face east 



and two west. Provision is made for wintering all colonies in two 



full-depth hive bodies. 



In the following dimensions it is assumed that i|-inch tongued- 



and-grooved hmiber is used, that the 10-frame Langstroth hive is 



in use, and that two hive bodies are employed for each colony, with 



adequate space above the hive so that, if needed, a third hire body 



may be put on before time for the removal of the packing. In this 



packing case the sides overlap the ends* For hives of other sizes 



the lumber must be cut so as to provide the packing specified in 



Table I (p. 15). For zones F and G (fig. 5) provi'^^ion should be 



made for additional packing by increasing the length of all j)arts 4 



inches, and for zone C a correspondingly smaller case may be made. 



Bottom of case ^4 inches (exact) by 52 inches (exact). 



Sides of cate.e "!>« m^^hes (exact) by 35i inches (mmxmum). 



Ends of case -44 inches (exact) by 35:^ (mmimimi). 



Telescope cover of case™48 inches by 56 inches (minimum). 



If 6-inch boards (laying 5^ inches) are used, it is desirable to use 

 7 boards for the height of the case; if 8-inch boards (laying 7} 

 inches) are used, 5 will be sufficient. In figure 2 only 6 boards, laying 

 5^ inches, are show^n, but in this case no allowance is made for a 

 third hive body in the spring. For the telescoping part of the cover, 

 d-inch boards are used. 



A.S was pointed out earlier, the hives should rest throughout the 

 summer on the floor of the winter case (fis:. 1). The plan of putting 

 them in groups of four, two facing ea.t and two west, has much to 

 commend it during the entire year. The bottom therefore should be 

 made strong enough to stand the weight of four colonies without get- 

 ting out of shape. Since this weight may be over 1,000 pounds m a 

 good year, it is advised that the cleats on the bottom of the case be 

 of 2 by 4 inch material. The supports of the bottom and the position 

 of the cleats should be arranged so that the weight will not rest too 

 largely on the boards, and the stones or bricks used should be directly 

 under the center of the hives when they are in their summer position. 

 Obviously the hives will be moved to the outer corners of the bottom 

 during the summer to facilitate handling. 



The sides of the case should be so constructed that the cleats which 

 hold the boards together will serve to support the overlapping sides 

 on the bottom. This is clearly shown in figure 2. There 

 should also be a central cleat on the sides to prevent warping, 

 for the cases must be rain-proof. If cleats are properly placed as 



62401°— '21— Bull. 1012 2 



