REPORT OF THE FNTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 227 



Temperature for the first two weeks of December was 42 ; remainder of month, 39. 



On December 21, one foot of horse manure was placed over the pit to try and raise 

 the temperature, but no difference was appreciable. 



The temperature for February and March was 39, and did not vary one degree 

 during the two months. 



The temperature of the pit on April 5, was 40 ; the day being very fine, both 

 colonies were removed to the bee yard 



Hive No. 3, was very damp and mouldy, and had half an inch of dead bees on the 

 bottom board, but no evidence of dysentery. 



Hive No. 1 was also very damp and mouldy and the entrance had some evidence of 

 dysentery ; on the bottom board there was about half an inch of dead bees. 



Mice had found their way into the pit, but had not been there long enough to do 

 any harm. 



The weight of hive No. 1, in the autumn of 1896, was 50 pounds, and in the spring 

 of 1897, 40 pounds, a loss of 10 pounds. 



The weight of hive No. 3, in the autumn of 1896, was 52 pounds, and in the spring 

 of 1897, 44 pounds, a loss of only 8 pounds. 



May 24, another examination was made as to the strength of the colonies. 



No. 1 had 7 frames of bees and 6 frames with brood. 



No. 3 had 8 frames of bees and 6J frames with brood. 



This experiment, therefore, is very satisfactory, and the method is one which can 

 be adopted at small expense by any one who wishes to keep bees. Care must be taken 

 to choose a well drained spot for the location of the pit, and to cover the ventilators 

 with wire netting to keep out mice. 



Experiment No. 5. — Wintering in wood shed (house apiary). 



Two colonies, Nos. 46 and 48 were left in the wood shed with some additional 

 packing as stated in last year's report, page 270. 



The wood shed has walls which are double boarded, with an air space of four 

 inches. The floor, which is about one foot from the ground is also double boarded and 

 there is no draught under it. The hives were moved one foot from the wall, and placed 

 on a double thickness of sacks laid on the floor ; the wooden covers were removed and 

 replaced by cushions. In addition to this, the hives were covered above and all round 

 with a double thickness of the same packing. No ventilation was provided for one hive 

 (No. 46) ; for the other, (No. 48), a small shaft half an inch square extended from the 

 opening of the hive to the outside of the shed, and half-inch strips of wood were placed 

 under both sides and under the back, and between the bottom boards and the brood 

 chamber, so as to give more space at the bottom of the hive in case a quantity of dead 

 bees should accumulate. 



No flying took place from the time they were packed until they were opened in 

 the spring. 



No difference could be noticed as to strength of colonies. 



April 5, both hives had two inches of dead bees on the bottom boards and were 

 damp and mouldy, and both colonies were in a very weak condition. 



Another examination was made on April 22, when both hives were found to be 

 deserted. 



Hive No. 46 weighed in theautumnof 1896, 63 pounds, and in the following spring it 

 weighed 48 pounds, showing a loss of 15 pounds. 



Hive No. 48 weighed in the autumn of 1896, 53 pounds, and in the following spring 

 it weighed 37 pounds, a loss of 16 pounds. 



Conclusions. — The mode of wintering that has given most satisfaction is No. 1. 



No. 2. Hives put in the cellar as they came from the bee-yard had not suflficient 



ventilation. This result agrees with that of last year. During the winter of 1897-98 



this experiment is being repeated and also two hives have been stored in the same way 



except that the wooden covers have been removed, leaving nothing but the propolis quilt. 



8a— L5J 



