winter passage. see w i, p e. see q (u) 17 (1869)
i w
willow. the different kinds of willow yield abundant supplies of honey, and their
growth should be encouraged. they [illegible] a very early supply and are particularly valuable
on that account. weeping early then the other kinds, come after [illegible] maples, before fruit. 
wintering bees. there can be no doubt that a dry, dark place neither too warm nor
too cool is the best place for bees in winter. if the temperature is too high they will be excited to unnatural
activity, and will suffer in various ways, if too low the motion which they will be obliged to keep up to preserve
their warmth will require a large consumption of stores. if the temperature is such that it disposes them to keep properly
quiet, they are almost in a state of hibernation. from [illegible] i am inclined to think that 50 degrees with darkness is the right 
temperature. if my views are correct a beekeeper on a large scale, would find it very profitable to secure such a place 
for wintering his bees. 
January 1st 1852. i propose to put boards or pine or cedar bark against the legs of
my hives, then to pile up earth etc. so as effectually to exclude frost, when the 
external opening may be made very small, and the bees will winter well. i am not sure
that the same plan would not answer equally well for summer, enabling them to keep a
cool temperature in their hives, guarding them from all danger of a sudden chill 
from air admitted below, and exactly as to guard them most effectually against
moth by constructing the entrances to the hive, without causing the bees to suffer from want
of air. this plan appears to me increasingly important. the platform, bottom board
etc. should of course be most thoroughly [illegible] with the [illegible] something of the same kind. 
if it was found that this plan would answer, the hives might be [illegible] around
and one part so faced as to give access at any time to the bottom board. 
march 2nd 1852. plan for supporting hive. a b and c d are joists or plank
say 2 inch thick and a b 3 and c d 1 4 inches
high. c d elevated on stones etc. one inch, to give the slant
two the hives. the space below may be excavated a foot or more, on the outside 
banked up so as to exclude heat or cold. all the hives communicate with the
space below, and are kept warm in summer and cool in winter. where
the situation will admit they ought to face as represented. 



