Winter Linings for Movable comb Hives. October 19th, 1864
Although I have given so much prominence to corn cobs as an admirable
material for lining hives for winter, other materials can be used to very
great advantage. [inserted: Old] woolen garments for instance, straw, cotton. 
Straw lined hives. I object entirely to a permanent lining of straw. 
Takes up too much room which is needed in summer, difficult to
arrange so as not to interfere with easy removal of frames, value
impaired by being in time propolized, a harbor for moth worms, etc. 
If used merely for winter liable to none of these objections, and as hives
should in the Fall be overlooked and combs arranged for wintering the trouble
not very great. Get good clean straw, cut to a proper length for bottom
board. Drive nails into the bottom board, lay down a good flooring of
straw fasten it down with fine annealed wire wound round the
heads of the nails. Lay the hive down on its side and fix straw
on the sides in the same way. If desirable the same may be done with the
front and rear, making this lining not so thick, should however, prefer woolen
old clothes here. Use same arrangement for under side of honey board
and let straw not lie close upon the tops of the frames. Use corn cobs only to
raise frames higher so as to clear straw. As the straw would be soft and
yielding, bottoms of frames might almost touch it and not hurt bees. This
would encourage them all the more to cluster low down. Hope to fix up
some hives on this plan tomorrow, to see what time required and to test
this winter merits of the two plans. (20th) Fixed one hive. If the corn cobs are best
this plan admirable in those parts of Europe where cobs cannot be obtained. 