338 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
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. It the hives have 
no upward ventilation, then I believe that they need as 
much, or even more, air, than in Summer. If upward 
ventilation is given, the smaller the lower openings the 
better, as it is not desirable that there should be a strong 
current of cold 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. 1; PI. V., Fig. 17).f 
If the hive has an upper box-cover, as in PI. III., big. 
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 inteiioi 
walls of the hive, may escape without injuring the bees. 
If an upper hive, as in Plate 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., big. 1, oi 
Plate V., Fig. 17, is used, the same opening must bo 
allowed for the escape of dampnessj. 
* If the sun is wnrm and the ground covered with now-fallen snow, the light 
nmy so blind tho bees, that they will fall Into this fleecy snow, and quickly perish. 
At such times, it would probably bo best to coniine them to their hives. If the 
snow is hard enough to bear up a healthy bee, it Is seldom lost, unless tempted to 
fly by the sun shining full upon its hive as it stands in a sheltered placo. 
+ The lower entranco may bo closed in tho Eall, whllo tho bees are still flying, 
and they will quickly accustom thomselvcs to tho uppor one. Mr. Wheaton sug¬ 
gests making tills Winter-entrance in tho back of tho hive, und in tho Fall revers¬ 
ing the pile, stand and all. This entrance fa merely proponed for trial. 
t Small Strips of wood, one-eighth of an inch thick, may bo placed between the 
sides of the hive and tho undor-surfaco of the roof, and, when the roof is securely 
fastened, tho dampness can escape from tho front anil rear of the blvo, where the 
openings are sheltered by tho clamps, from tho snow and rain. 
