300 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
injured them in the least degree, because, reposing in a low and 
equable temperature, they had consumed proportionably litllo 
honey, and remained without excitement or disturbance during 
the whole period. I am now fully convinced that bees may 
remain confined in this manner during the most protracted 
Winter, not only without injury, but with positive benefit, as 
they are altogether secure from the always detrimental, and 
frequently ruinous, effects of exposure to the vicissitudes of the 
weather in our variable climate. 
" To simplify the construction of the clamps, I made my last 
one longer and lower than the one I prepared the previous Fall ; 
and I was thus able to apply the successive covers, or mantles, 
more easily and conveniently. I also dispensed with the chimney, 
and could thus close the top more regularly and perfectly, laying 
over the apex, boards weighted down with stones to keep them in 
place. I found no disadvantage resulting from discarding the 
chimney, as the ventilating-tubes enabled me still to regulate the 
internal temperature, and give the bees a sufficient supply of 
fresh air. I also enlarged the air-chamber, making it three feet 
deep, as before, by only thirty inches broad, and lengthening it so 
as to extend the whole length of the interior diameter of the 
clamp. In every other respect, the construction remained the 
same.” 
When hives are wintered in a special repository, I 
should advise giving them upward ventilation. If they 
are in cellars or rooms, the upper cover may be entirely 
removed ; and, if put in clamps, then it may be fastened, 
as advised on page 338, and some air be allowed to enter at 
the lower part of the hive. 
In all the northern parts of this country, it is very 
obvious that those who mean to establish large Apiaries 
will have to so winter their bees, that they shall not bo 
exposed to the usual atmospheric changes. What way 
precisely is the best can only be determined by careful 
and long-continued experiments. These ought not to be 
conducted so as to hazard too much in one venture. 
