For those having only a few colonies, it is not always convenient to
build cases for colonies in groups of four. It is not necessary to
give dimensions in detail for those having a few colonies, however,
for they will usually wish to use whatever they have at hand. It is
often possible to arrange a heavy wooden box, such as those used for
shipping dry goods (fig. 4), so as to make a winter case for one colony
which will answer every purpose. It is, of course, necessary that the
salient feature of a good winter case be preserved. If the arrangement
of the apiary makes it inconvenient to have the colonies in groups of
four throughout the year, it is quite possible to make good cases for
two colonies. Anything other than the four-colony case, however, will
probably cost more per colony, or if too many colonies are put into
larger cases there may be trouble from other causes, as from drifting.
[Illustration: Fig. 4.--An improvised winter case for one colony.]