warm surface, thus dispensing with the need of inter passage in combs, and with the
necessity of any upper winter passage, while to crown the whole, the dampness may escape
from the hive, as it is not necessary to keep any cold surface of honey board over the bees. From
what I can now judge an hour would suffice to [crossed out: illegible] cob the hive after one has all the
plan. I do not count the transferring of the bees into the cobed hive, as every colony ought
to be examined and prepared for wintering, cobs or no cobs. In arranging the colony
for winter, I prefer to have the three central frames not very much honey, the best
worker comb, then on each side of these a comb the fullest of honey, then on each
side the next fullest. If the central frames are too full the bees cannot keep so warm
and they will often pass to one side. (21st) Have put a layer of chaff under the cobs in one
hive, it raises the cobs so high that the cob elevators do not make the bottoms of the
frames to clear the [inserted: cob] platform, elevators must be higher. Shall fix a few hives with side
cobs but more at bottom, also a few with only top cobs. If the moisture should get
into the platform, it would be bad, do not, however, fear it. The ledge in my hives
cause all the water that is not evaporated to run outside of the hive. And if the
interior [inserted: super] walls of the hive are all warm there will be no condensation upon them
enough to run. Drive nails into guttered rabbets to elevate cobs on which frames rest when
chaff is used below cobs. (22nd 36 degrees - 47 degrees) Ground white with snow. In one cobed stock
only moderately strong with a comb laid on cob over the frames, bees clustered under the combs
and a small cluster on top chilled and motionless. In a very strong cobed stock with comb
on cobs laid over frames (winter passage in this comb, the other had none) none on top of comb, a dense
mass clustered under and against the comb, nearly the whole size of the comb. The [inserted: cobed] hive with top
cobs (say full cobed hive) has bees well up next to cobs. In some of the strongest side cobed
hives, bees lie against the sides. By dispensing with winter passage, new colonies
with guide frames will work [illegible] combs, not the tendency noticed to work the
combs the wrong way. (24th) Slight frost. Bees on the under side of combs, chilled ones on the
top of comb with no winter passage. Bees well down on cobs. (25th 30 degrees) Very frosty. In most of the
cobed hives bees well away from sides. In the two with top combs, as usual in one a cluster nearly chilled, in
the other the usual large quantity of bees under the comb. While under a carpet in one hive bees not up
and under cobs not at all clustered, but much nearer the top of frames than when all open above. 
It is very evident that a comb has a great influence in drawing bees up. Why? And can any practical
use be made of this? The ease with which cobs can be got anywhere in this broad country
gives them, even if no better in other respects than straw, a great preference. Since threshing of
straw by machinery difficult to get it nice and few are handy in making it. Cobs last
for a generation. 26th Long tacks put into tops of frames answer perfectly well to keep the top
cobs from slipping off when hive is opened. Long thin finishing nails driven through the cobs
for elevators will fasten them on to the rabbets. If it should prove at all desirable to have the
top cobs have more space under them, lay a thin strip of wood from front to rear so that the inside
ends of both tiers of cobs may rest on it. 27th Top strip would prevent bees from passing over it. 
Before lining the sides and bottom it would be a very good thing to use several layers of old newspapers
which would add greatly to the nonconducting power of the linings. The keeping of the entrance at one
side will allow very little light to enter the hive, and the weather must be quite warm to cause
the bees to stir. This very important. Have laid some top cobs thus [diagram] 1,1, are short pieces
leaving a large central opening into which a comb for feeding may be fit and