16 
trifugal machine for extracting or removing the 
honey from the combs is an indispensable necessity 
to the best success in bee culture. 
A good method of protecting bees during cold 
weather is to cover their hives with boards, straw 
and soil. Select a dry, elevated situation, and ar¬ 
range the hive supports end to end in a straight 
line, upon which place a single row of hives as 
near each other as practicable, properly ventilated 
at both top and bottom, placing boards over them 
in the form of a double inclined roof, and covering 
deep enough to keep the frost out of the hives. 
They should also be kept dry and of a regular tem¬ 
perature, neither freezing cold nor warm enough 
to make the bees restless. A shaded place is the 
most favorable for securing a regular temperature. 
Too long confinement should also be avoided. As 
previously stated, the length of time which bees 
can be safely confined during cold weather, or any 
other time, depends in a great measure upon the 
condition and quality of their honey. The under¬ 
signed has kept bees successfully underground in 
southern Ohio in a cool, shaded and damp place, 
from the last of October till the first of March— 
four months in succession, without flying—but bees 
were not then lost in that locality on account of im¬ 
pure honey. The hives lost in weight during that 
time from fourteen to fifteen pounds each, and 
when taken out the combs were somewhat mouldy 
at their lower ends. But very little honey was col¬ 
lected there after the middle of July, consequently 
their honey contained but very little water, secur¬ 
ing one of the most favorable conditions for long 
confinement. 
Proper judgment and care is ever required for 
