348 
WINTERING BEES. 
escapes, it should be raised a very little ; otherwise not. 
The moisture will condense on the sides and top, when 
it melt^will follow the sides to the bottom, and pass 
out ; the rabbeting around the top of the hive will 
prevent its getting to the holes, and down among the 
bees. It will be easily comprehended, that a hole be- 
tween each two combs at the top, (as mentioned in the 
subject of putting on the boxes,) will ventilate the hive 
much better than where there is but one or two, or 
where there is a row of several, and all are between 
two combs. 
BUT LITTLE RISK WITH GOOD STOCKS. 
All good stocks may be wintered in this way, with 
but little risk in most situations. Whether in the 
bleak north- wind, buried in a snow-bank, or situated 
warm and pleasant, it will make no great difference. 
The mice cannot enter; the holes give them air, and 
carry off moisture, &c. But second-rate stocks are not 
equally safe in cold situations. 
EFFECT OF KEEPING SECOND-RATE STOCKS OUT OF THE SUN. 
It has been strongly urged, without regard to the 
strength of the stock, to keep them all out of the sun ; 
because an occasional warm day would call out the 
bees, when they get on the snow, and perish ; this is 
a loss, to be sure, but there is such a thing as inducing 
a greater one by endeavoring to avoid this. I have 
said in anothea place that second rate or poor stocks 
might occasionally starve, with plenty of stores in the 
hive, on account of frosty combs. If the hive is kept 
from the sun, in the cold, the periods of temperate 
