VENTILATION. 27 
frosty weather) upon the inner walls of the hive. This moisture con- 
geals and forms a lining of frost and ice upon the inner surface of the 
hive. This moisture extends to the comb, especially when the weather 
moderates and the ice melts. ‘The comb, in consequence of the moist- 
ure, turns very black, and not unfrequently mildews, and a bad odor is 
generated in the hive. In this damp atmosphere, being walled in by a 
coating of ice, the Bees are effectually chilled, and fall upon the bottom 
of the hive to rise no more. This usually occurs not in the coldest 
weather, while the Bees cluster in the centre of the hive, but when the 
weather becomes warmer and the Bees begin to move, and come in 
contact with the ice while it is melting. A fact illustrative of this 
occurred not many days since—(Jan. 1854). I have one swarm of 
Bees in a common box hive which cannot be ventilated. After a period 
of severe cold a thaw commenced, and my Bees began to move and 
some of them to leave the hive. At this time, about 10 o’clock A. M., 
I passed around to examine and clear off the bottoms of my hives. I 
found little or no apparent moisture and no dead Bees worth naming 
in any of the hives, except in the one just named. Here I found a 
teacupful of dead Bees on the bottom of the hive. I removed them. 
Before night I visited the hive again, and found about the same quan- 
tity of dead Bees as before, in the same place, near the south side of the 
hive. I was led to inquire why so many should fall in a warm day and 
at one part of the hive. J examined for the cause, and found a thick 
layer of ice upon that side of the hive, which was then in the process 
of melting. I was satisfied as to the cause. They began to move, and 
cane in contact with an “iceberg,” and were benumbed. ‘These Bees 
I “took up for dead,” and carried them to my sitting-room, with a view 
to perform some microscopic observations. While engaged in those 
observations, I found that in consequence of the warmth of the room 
some of the dead were coming to life. Some of them so far recovered 
as to take a repast of honey which I gave them. All this occurred in 
a warm day, with ice or moisture deposited and frozen on that side of 
the hive where the injury was experienced. Can any one doubt, in 
the circumstances, as to the cause which operated for the destruction of 
the Bees? Bees are seldom, if ever, destroyed by cold alone. They 
often die of cold and moisture combined. Bees have been known to 
survive a New England winter suspended in the open air, with no. 
bottom whatever tothe hive. This shows that they will endure a great 
