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 ha\ e 
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 stiong 
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. I7).f 
If the hive has an upper box-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 iuteiioi 
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., Fig. 1, or 
Plate V., Fig. 17, is used, the same opening must bo 
allowed for the escape of dampness^. 
» If the sun is warm anil the ground covered with new-fallen snow, the light 
may so blind the bees, that they will fall into this ileecy snow, and quickly perish. 
At such times, it would probably be best to confine 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 ns It stands in a sheltered place. 
+ The lower entrance may be closed in the Fall, while the bees nro still flying, 
and they will quickly acoustom themselves to the upper one. Mr. Wheaton sug¬ 
gests making this Winter-entrance in the bnck of the hive, and in the Fall rovers¬ 
ing the pile, stand and all. Thin entrance is merely proposed for trial. 
$ Small strips of wood, one-eighth of an inch thick, may bo placed between the 
sides of the hive and the under-surface of the roof, and, when the roof Is securely 
fastened, the dampness can escape from the front and roar of the hive, where the 
openings are sheltered by the clamps, from the snow and rain. 
