REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 225 



Experiments in Wintering (1896-97). 



Experiment Ifo. 1. — Nov. 16, 1896. — Fifteen colonies were put into winter quarters 

 in the cellar and placed on the shelves, beginning eighteen inches from the floor. Under 

 the back end of each hive was placed a three inch block, by which means the back of 

 each hive was raised so as to ensure free ventilation. Each hive was raised from its 

 own bottom board three-eighths of an inch at the back. All front entrances were left 

 wide open, the wooden covers all removed, leaving the propolis quilt on 12 hives and 

 placing a chaff cushion four inches thick on each. On the remaining three hives no 

 propolis quilt was used, but the chaff cushion was laid close to the frames. No differ- 

 ence could be seen between the colonies having on the propolis quilt and those which 

 had none, that is, as to dampness, &c. 



Temperature was taken once a week all through the winter : — 



Highest. Lowest. 



November 16 to 30 46 40 



December 44 43 



January 44 43 



February 45 43 



March 46 42 



April 46 



The bees were quiet throughout the winter, very slight hum being noticeable. 



On April 5 all hives were removed to their summer stands. The temperature was 

 kept regular in the cellar by means of a coal stove and careful watching. The stove 

 was placed in an adjoining room, and was lit when the temperature was low or the 

 cellar damp. The stove and ventilators require a great deal of watching, so as not to 

 allow sudden draughts of warm or cold air, as either disturb the bees too much. 



As the advantageous use of the coal stove requires experience, at present I would 

 not recommend it to beginners. 



Since the cement floor, shelving and complete ventilation have been put in the 

 cellar, it has given entire satisfaction. 



During the past winter every colony in this experiment was perfectly dry and clean 

 and showed no uneasiness of any kind, and all came out in excellent condition. 



Average weight of each hive when put into winter quarters was 51 pounds ; when 

 taken out on April 5, the average weight was 41 pounds 10 ounces per hive, showing that 

 each hive had lost 9 pounds 6 ounces, which was rather less than the usual amount, 

 owing to the comfortable cellar. 



Experiment No. 2. — Colonies Nos. 14 and 20 wer" put into the cellar with tops 

 and bottoms of hives left on, just as they were brought in from the bee-yard. 

 These were to be watched for dampness. During November and December there was 

 a slight hum in both hives, but they were quite dry. 

 Jan. 11. — Hive No. 14 was damp and noisy; hive No, 20 was dry. 

 Feb. 1. — Both quite dry, but there were many dead bees at the entrance of hive 



No. 14. 

 Feb. 8. — Colony No. 1 4 very noisy and hive damp ; cover removed and ventilation i 



given at bottom by raising the front entrance an additional two inches. 

 Feb. 22. — Both hives perfectly dry and quiet. 

 Mar. 1-29. — Hive No. 14 had some spots of faeces on the entrance, and when removed 



from the cellar on April 5 there was about one inch of dead bees and 



some mould on the bottom board, but the bees were in fair condition, as 



the colony was a large one. 

 April 5. — Hive No. 20 noisy, but dry ; very few dead bees on bottom board. Total 



weight of the two hives when put in, 105 pounds ; when taken out, 



82 pounds. No. 14 weighed 13 pounds less, hive No. 20, 10 pounds 



less than when put into winter quarters. 

 May 24. — Hive No. 14 had 7 frames of bees and h\ frames of brood; hive No. 20 had 



8 frames of bees and 6^ frames of brood. 

 8a— 15. 



