When the four papers folded down into the box, this set centrally over the tops of frames,
space not covered by it should have old carpet, straw mat, etc. This place the bees
can keep warm. As cold strikes them from below they naturally retreat from it, press up
here a warm surface against which to back up and one which will not allow moisture
or frost to condense above them. This very different from attempting to keep whole shallow
chamber warm. Shallow chamber before would hold over 90 cubic inches, now only 30. If the
bees accept of my theory they will be found to form their winter cluster nearly if
not entirely under the small cob box. These boxes once fitted up easily packed
away for use from year to year. Lay cotton or wool waste over the first tier of cobs they
may be made as warm as toast. February 13, 1868. Used one of these boxes over
a colony in a 13 frame hive which had no winter passage. For some time saw
no bees clustered upon it. Thought plan a failure. Used one with cobs to rest
on top of frame in a 10 frame hive. Saw no particular benefit. About three weeks
ago saw bees clustered well in the first one. Winter has been steady cold, unusually
so for this latitude. No extreme cold, lowest about 6 degree below zero, but the average
depression very low. After noticing bees well clustered up on the coldest days
in first cob box, made the shallow chamber in second, and they readily accepted
of it. Any experiments have led me to believe that bees desire something
warm to cluster up against. They can thus prevent any current of air from
passing through their cluster. Do not think it of very much importance whether
the top surface not covered by small box has any covering except in very cold
climates. Straw, old carpet, etc. , may be put over. Or thus: Box A B C D
about 3 inches deep to hold two depths of cobs kept up about 3/8 inches
from tops of frames. a b c d cross strips about 6 inches deep. 
x y filled with cobs 3/8 inches from tops of frames. E inside
apartment 8 inches square, cobs to be kept 3/8 inches above frames or higher if it is found to answer
better. This apartment to be made on the warm as toast plan as the clustering place
of bees. x y might be filled with woolen rags or straw crowded in and so might 1, 2. This
straw put in fresh each season. E should be made so warm that moisture will
never condense in it. Inside box to be nailed and to have strips for cobs to rest on before
it is nailed in place. 1, 2, will take small cobs. Once fixed would answer as long as the
hive would last. Thickness of stuff 1/2 inch or even thinner, 3 feet of 1/2 inch lumber would make the whole
1, 2, x, y would allow of escape of all dampness. These set away in tiers when not in use, need little
room for storage. A B C D made just to fit snugly on edges of hive, or better, an easy fit inside. 
If spring feeding needed, take out a cob or two on 1, or 2, and put food there. Nice to make one or two
cob troughs to hold liquid food. Have place for water sweetened to aid in early breeding. 
In 1, 2, any kind of feeder might be used, and kept warm if bees needed more liberal feeding. Or easy to
put it in E. Easy also to put candy in E. A patent on this might not pay and yet it seems to me an admirably
good thing. Keep this on till bees are strong. Easy to take off to examine bees, etc. , etc. 