sweetened water, etc. run down between central bundles two 1/2 inch wide sticks about an inch apart
from each other which would give a straw tube or chimney to admit bees to a receptacle
(resting on the straw) for liquid food. Straw receiver may be lifted off at any time to lift out
bees for examination. Winter passages might be useful but would not probably not be needed. 
It seems to me that we have now all the advantages of a straw hive with none of its evils,
and all that we need for wintering bees to the best advantage in the open air. Warmth, dryness,
means to feed candy, etc. , if danger of being caught by scanty stores or long continued cold
clustered between empty combs, facility for examination so that this [illegible] arrangement
may be continued until hive is well stored with bees and about ready for supers. 
Facility for giving water and stimulative food in spring in the smallest time and with the
least disturbance to the bees. It would probably be best to take out one frame and keep the spaces
[crossed out: illegible] on each side of the two outside frames as usual and give the extra room to
the six inside spaces where the bees would cluster. This would give those combs l 2/3 from
center to center instead of 1. 425 inches. The bees could now compact themselves much better. It would
be necessary to reduce these spaces early in the spring. It is very obvious that this straw
arrangement would be only applicable to close top fitting frames when the tops were separated
enough to allow bees to pass up, and poorly then. Query, could they be separated even in winter
without infringing on my patent? 17th Today I discard the idea of fitting the straw
bundles into the upper section. Use a small frame just to fit in hive over the frames
sides 1/4 inch thick, 4 inches high, ends 3/8 inches thick, 4 inches high, in this light frame the bundles fitted
to tie outside bundles to the ends of frame so that they will keep in place when frame lifted
out, then bundles or cobs to get the central shallow chamber laid down - and central bundles made
[illegible] so that they can be lifted easily for examination etc. If any advantage central bundles
might be wrapped in old carpet, woolen rags, etc. Under hollows where round bundles join together
bees can easily pass in strong stocks from comb to comb outside of central shallow chamber. 
to put cotton, etc. over straw bundles, newspapers, etc. , on top of frame put honey board if needed [illegible]
holes open. Any light, pleasant day set off covers for a few hours and straw kept dry
and sweet. Have today fitted to a hive one such [crossed out: box] straw device. Need now best plan
to make the bundles. If stock strong, only one cob at each side just to hold up central bundle. This
but the arrangement permits top of hive to be kept as warm and air tight as may be desirable,
the way to do so being under easy and perfect control. The [crossed out: illegible] frames taken out to give more room
the combs laid on top of straw or honey board ready for feeder if needed, or to be returned
to bees. Easy to fill a comb in nucleus frame with honey and put in central apartment in the coldest
weather bees would eat out honey on lower side, kept up above them. Two pieces of old carpet, woolen
rags, etc. might be laid over frames thus, before straw laid on. These would confine the heat
better. 
14.25 Each frame 1.425
Thickness of comb .875 Space between combs .65
5.1425 Given to six spaces makes each .8875
Gain to each space . 237 So that each space
would not (including empty cells) hold over 1/3 more
bees. No doubt this would be a great gain to
the bees in keeping warm.