hold it in place. Give as much loose wool (bed clothing, blankets, comforters, [crossed out: illegible]
as these to men to keep them warm, so the wool to bees) as you choose. Be sure to get
enough over the contracted shallow chamber. This so easily done that however important
no use in patenting it. Pin down woolen rag to frames, lay down one cob to rest on woolen
rag, then when the other long cob is fixed in place, raise up rag over cob and stretch
to the other long cob, be sure to lay wool thoroughly over this contracted shallow chamber
and to have cobs by pins or brads held in place. If the long ones held, end ones will go between. 
Where comb guide frames not on hand prefer the movable doubling partitions, corner pieces about 1 1/2 x 7/8 inches partition
nailed to these about 3/8 inches, or what you would get by ripping 7/8 or inch boards, these to go down
flush to bottom board and come to level of [crossed out: illegible] tops of frames, easy with a tack or two to keep them
in place and then to fill in with wool, straw, rags, etc. This space need not be disturbed until
weather warm and bees need the space for work. 28th Make doubling partitions as follows,
corner strips 1 1/2 inches wide, [inserted: 5/8] [crossed out: 3/8] inches thick, nail board or several boards like slats 1/8 inch thick
to these, nail them on iron surface so as to clinch nails like guide frames. Fill
in loose wool, woolen rags, etc. Wool altogether best. These will occupy the space of one comb taken
out, one more taken out for more space between wintering combs leaves eight frames. 
Now divide the space gained among the 5 central spaces, small
box 8 x 8 will now cover all the wide places and bees have access under
it to all but the two outside combs. [crossed out: illegible]
On further reflection think it would be cheaper to use a small box or frame
8 x 8 x 2 inches high, time saved in fixing [inserted: cobs] more than pay cost of box
or 8 x 8 x 1 inch high, over it stretched and pinned woolen rag, loose wool largely laid in
and around this, less work than woolen bundles. 
Let small frame be 8 x 12 1/2 x 1 inches high. It will now fit against side partitions. Only two
narrow mats, pieces of carpet, etc. required to fill over frames and space
not covered by box, bees can have access to all the spaces, when cold strikes
them retreat up and over frames to be more central, or through winter passage. 
Easy at any time to fill up ends with woolen bundles, so as to make it 8 x 8
after bees have fairly entered into winter quarters. It should not be larger than
a stock will incline to keep well filled. Two strips of woolen material 6 x 14 will
cover top not covered by box, and one 14 x 10, the box, about one inch of this laid on frames
under box, so that the rest can be stretched over and pinned in place, space on each side
8 x 8 may be used for candy. Wool bundles in these spaces of course makes all more comfortable. 
No objection even to loose wool. In my 13 frame hives were some partitions for doubling, reduced
the hive by filling in with straw, etc. , removing frames to the same inside dimensions, so the
same size box, mats, [crossed out: illegible] partitions answer in any hive. March 2nd. After
submitting the whole thing to the experimentum crucis. I prefer as best and cheapest in the long run
the following plan. Have box or frame 4 inches deep to fit in over the frames. A B & C D 1
inch, A C & B D 1/4 inch thick, cross pieces reaching down to bottom
[crossed out: illegible] sides about 7/8 inches square, xxx very thin strips nailed across. 
The front and rear mats are laid down first coming a little into
the inner space. Where mats not used spaces between combs filled with
old woolen rags. Over ef gh, mats, carpet, etc. resting on xxx and ef gh. 
Those who prefer it may use cobs here resting on strips and make ef and