I think a pound of wool would answer for four hives. Interest on this allowing for
waste not over two cents per annum. No woolen mats or felts could be afforded at anything
like this, and could not be so well applied between uprights of frames and front and rear walls
of hive. Bees would gum them badly. Know this from experience. Now if they 
will let the loose wool alone this very important. Shall leave wool between frames and
case remain in one hive till in season to see how bees treat it. What else
suitable could be used between these spaces that bees would not gum fast? Compare
cost of wool with doubled hives, etc. In a new swarm of last season with very irregular combs
great spaces, etc., caused by failure of guide frames, a small colony has wintered with loss of
very few bees. 22nd. Weather has turned suddenly cold. Yesterday 50 degrees. Today 18 degrees. Saw but
few bees in small upper box. Queen has laid a good spread of brood and bees are all
needed below. Evident that after the Spring cleaning out of hive this box should be removed. 
Woolen rags! Today I put some strips of woolen rags between ranges of combs. 
Easier to put these rag strips in than loose wool. Cheaper, bees can not tangle
up in them, will keep in warmth better. Bees may gum them some, not enough to
hurt, will lie up close against them. Will they not be every way then better than
loose wool. I think they will be. Bundles for small box may be of woolen rags, or cotton
stuffed inside of woolen rags. Two or three cents worth of woolen rags would do for a
hive and last for years. In still, bright moderate days in winter, remove cover, roof
and all, let sun shine upon tops of [inserted: frames] [crossed out: illegible]. Hive will warm up so that bees can easily move
about and get supplies which it is their habit to bring into the interior cluster. If woolen
rags are used and patent to be obtained I would be for the small upper box made warm
as toast, absolutely and in combination with woolen rags or loose wool for stopping spaces
between ranges of combs not covered with warm box, and spaces between uprights and
walls of hive. 
Spacing Hive for Winter. Remove one frame. Let one frame be removed. Let
4 frames, two on each side, have no change in spacing. Let the
space of removed frame be divided among four inside spaces
so as to secure most of the bees. 
Usual space between tops of frames . 425
Space given to [inserted: each of] 4 inside spaces . 781
If bees are clustered between these 4 inside spaces, they would occupy about 8 inches
 (7. 9) This would give room for a large stock to lie under small warm box. Perhaps
with very strong stocks to divide the space among six spaces. Feb. 24th. Woolen rags might have [illegible]
inside and pinned together, this no doubt best for the wide spaces. Would not in any case put
wool next to bees. If necessary hive might have loose wool put under old pieces of woolen rags
front and rear, or frames pushed to front and all on rear. Would not prevent combs from being lifted
out, etc. , but do not think this would be needed. Easy to make my hives doubled. Four posts on corner
of main hive, a rebated edge left on each post against which front and rear thin board rests
and made deep enough and wide enough to furnish nailing support for side thin doubling strips. These
side spaces (dead air) not over 3/4 inches thick and spaces filled with ground or pounded corn cobs, sawdust,
etc. Now with woolen rags and warm box, all right. I have no doubt that warm
box after all the essential thing. 25th. Easy to lay woolen mat, old carpet, etc. over tops of frames