PKEPAKATION OF BEES FOR DUTIX)OR WINTERH^TG. 13 



packing over the porous tops, may be sure that he has not proyided 

 enough packing material. 



Another thing is to be considered in connection with the subject 

 of upward ventilation. The entrances to the hives must be greatly 

 reduced in order that there may not be excessive loss of heat at that 

 point. If upward ventilation is provided, there is opportunity for 

 the wind to blow through even the small entrance, through the hive 

 and oiit through the porous cover. This current of air will be slight 

 but nevertheless it exists, and serves as an avenue for the escape of 

 considerable heat. 



If insu-fficient packing is provided, upward ventilation becomes 

 almost necessary, unless a large entrance is left. The beekeeper 

 must see to it that he is providing adequate packing material before 

 he gives up the upward ventilation, but he should not count his bees 

 well packed for winter so long as he must provide for the escape of 

 condensed moisture. 



THE ENTRANCE. 



As has been pointed out, the entrances of hives must be greatly 

 reduced during the winter in order that the efficacy of the bottom 

 packing may be preserved. It is desirable, however, that provision 

 be made for larger entrances during the early fall and again in the 

 spring. To provide conditions suitable at all times while the pack- 

 ing cases are on, the Bureau of Entomology has adopted a type of 

 entrance which to some extent has been used previously in the ISTorth. 

 Five |-inch auger holes are bored in the ends of the packing case at 

 a height that will allow for the thickness of the case floor, the bottom 

 packing, and the thickness of the bottom of the hive. This usually 

 is a little over 6 inches from the lower edge of the case ends. No 

 alighting board should be placed at the outer entrance holes, as it is 

 not needed and serves only to collect snow and ice. 



To prevent the tunnels from getting out of alignment at the outer 

 edge, a peg of the diameter of the holes is inserted through the outer 

 hole for each hive and into the tunnel (see fig. 2) . This peg is usually 

 about 2| inches long. This leaves four auger holes, each three-eighths 

 of an inch in diameter, for the bees to use as an entrance during the 

 fall and spring, and during the colder weather a piece of section 

 material or a small board is tacked over three of the holes. (See fig. 3.) 

 This gives in winter a single hole for an entrance, three-eighths of an 

 inch in diameter. This provides a place for the bees to remove their 

 dead, a place for flight on moderately warm days, and also provides 

 adequate ventilation for the hive while the bees are confined without 

 an opportunity for flight. However, the size of entrance should not 

 be discussed without warning beekeepers that unless adequate pack- 

 ing is provided, such a small entrance may result in the death of the 



