gh deeper to receive cobs [illegible] [inserted: can] have a woolen rag nailed on them, over mats or cobs lay loose
wool or woolen rags, over all lay the frames taken out or the honey board. Those who prefer can
use old carpet, etc. over the wool. Use as much wool as you choose. Where bees have fairly
begun to winter fill in 1, 1. Later in spring are there to feed in sweetened water, good place for
candy in cold weather, pushed up pretty close to clustering bees. Of course warm apartment can
be got with a few strips, cobs, etc. Then fill in with woolen rags [illegible] under warm
apartment, set over centrally small frame 8 x 8 x 1 inch high, with woolen rag, carpet tacked
over it on cobs, bed loose wool, woolen rags, etc. over this, lay combs or honey board on this. 
Will no doubt answer substantially all purposes, least cost, most labor. The small warm
box the all in all. Objection to cobs, moisture cannot pass through them. With
a small amount of wool it will. Outfit not so good a thing to be [illegible] with a patent. 
March 20th. Found as yet but a single worm, in the only nucleus wintered in the cellar. Will
not stocks wintered in special winter depositories be far more subject to worms than those
wintered in the open air. April 9th. Use for mats woolen rag carpets, bind strong around
edges to prevent raveling out. Cut out center for small central box, bind well center piece,
bind large piece around hole. Thick woolen rag carpet fills the bill. Cheap, strong, warm, easy to
get. Center piece of honey board might be made to screw into clamps, so as to take out and leave
hole. This well enough where climate not so very severe as to cause dampness under honey board. 
Easy now to lay loose wool on carpet and to raise up honey board enough to give as much of
a shallow chamber as would be needed. Easy to work all right in this way. For plan
have and not have shallow chamber at, will, see.