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as winter has fairly opened, the hives should be taken 
in, and not sooner. Common hives may be inverted, 
and a piece of thin muslin or wire-cloth fastened over 
the openings. During the winter, the hives should be 
examined occasionally, to see that the combs are not 
getting mouldy ; should the humming and uneasy mo- 
tions of the bees give indication that the cellar is too 
warm, it should be cooled ; and if thiscannot be effect- 
ed by opening the door and window, the uneasy stock 
should be carried outside until the bees become quiet, 
when it may be returned. 
Special Houses are sometimes built, when a cellar 
cannot be used. The building is weather-boarded out- 
side and boarded within, and the space between filled 
with saw- dust, tan-bark or straw ; the roof is also 
boarded inside, and the cavity between filled with straw 
or saw-dust. To secure a more even temperature, a pit 
two or three feet deep is dug inside ; and the bees are 
wintered in it as in a cellar. 
Ground Pits are also made use of in the absence of 
either of the foregoing. Select a perfectly dry spot, dig 
a pit or ditch six inches deeper and wider than the 
height and width of the hives; drain this ditch to se- 
cure perfect dryness ; lay down four-inch scantling, 
and upon it place your hives, arrange a pole over the 
middle of the ditch, rested in forked limbs, and from 
the pole lay short boards to each side of the ditch in 
