338 
THE HIVE AED llOHEY-HEE. 
colony by the excitement created by confining them when 
the weather is warm enough to entice them abroad.* 
The best Apiarians are still at variance as to how much 
air should be given to bees in Winter, and whether hives 
should have upward ventilation, or not. If the hives have 
no upward ventilation, then I believe that they need as 
much, or even more, air, than in Summer. If upwai'd 
ventilation is given, the smaller the lower openings the 
better, as it is not desirable that there should be a strong 
current oH coin air passing through the hives. 
In my hives, all the lower passages can easily be closed 
air-tight, and the bees allowed to go in and out through 
the Winter-entrance, which is made at the top of the 
hive (PI. I., Fig.’l; PI. V., Fig. 17).t 
If the hive has an upper bo.v-cover, as in PI. III., Fig. 
9, the holes in the honey-board must be left open, or 
closed only with wire-cloth, that the dampness, which would 
otherwise condense or freeze on the combs and interioi’ 
walls of the hive, may escape without injuring the bees. 
If an upper hive, as in I’late V., Fig. 16, is placed on 
the top of the one in which the bees are wintered, its 
roof should be slightly elevated, to allow the escape of 
moisture. If a single hive, like that in Plate I, Fig. 1, oi- 
Plate V., Fig. 17, is used, the same opening must be 
allowed for the escape of dampness^. 
* If the Bun U warm and the ground covered with nuw-fnUoii »now, the light 
may so blind the bees, that they will fall into this fleecy snow, and quickly perish. 
At such times, it would probably bo best to conflne them to their hives. If the 
BDow is bard enough to bear up a bcnlthy bee, it Is seldom lost, unless tempted to 
fly by the sun shining full upon its hive us it stands in a sheltered place. 
t The lower entrance maybe closed in the Fall, while the bees are still flying, 
aud they will quickly accustom themselves to the upper one. Mr. Wheaton sug¬ 
gests making this Winter-ontranco in the buck of the hive, and in the Fall rovers- 
lug the pile, stand ami all. Thin entrance is merely proposed for it-ial. 
J 6mull strips of wood, one-tdghth of an inch thick, may bo placed betwocii the 
aides of the hive and the undor-surfaco »)f the roof, niid, when the roof is securely 
fastcniMl, tlio <lampncss can escape from the front and rear of the hive, where the 
openings are sheltered by the clamps, from the snow and ruin. 
