WINTERING. 



493 



WINTERING. 



thinks that, in some 

 cases, it is advisable to 

 have a stove in the ves- 

 tibule. If there is a 

 small opening at the top 

 of the vestibule leading 

 into the bee- room, and 

 another opening at the 

 bottom, artificial heat 

 w^ill cause a circulation . 

 The air can be kept 

 fresh by opening the 

 outside door at inter 

 vals. An oil-stove 

 should not be used, or- 

 dinarily, for the result- 

 ing bnd air will be worse 

 for bees than the cold. 



With a properly con- 

 st ructed bee - cellar, 

 there should be no need 

 of artificial heat; but, 

 nevertheless, it is best 

 to have the cellar so ar- 

 ranged that a stove can 

 be used if necessary. 



The illustration given 

 on the previous page 

 shows Mr. C. A. Hatch's 

 plan for a bee-cellar. It 

 will be seen that the 

 bee-room is almost en- 

 tirely under the ground 

 The space between the 

 ceiling and the roof is 

 filled with leaves. 



Mr. Hatch thinks it is 

 advisable to have a cel- 

 lar near the apiary, and 

 built in a side hill if possible. If the en- 

 trance is on the level it is very easy to wheel 

 colonies in and out. lie thinks that a cellar 

 12x i6 feet, inside measure, would be ample 

 for lOU colonies in ten- frame hives, or for 120 

 colonies in eight frame hives. 



An important point connected with the 

 Hatch bee-cellar is the double entrance, or 

 vestibule. In this way the temperature can 

 be regulated very easily. A temperature of 

 45 degrees Fahrenheit is considered ideal, 

 but it is probable that a rise or drop of tive 

 degrees does no great harm unless continued 

 more than 24 hours. Mr. Hatch agrees with 

 Mr. France in thinking that the three es- 

 sentials for safe wintering are good feed, 

 proper temperature, and young bees. 

 hoi.termann's bee-cellar. 

 One of the largest bee-cellars, as well as 

 one of the best designed, is owned by Mr. 



Hull's bee-cell:ir, built in a side-hill ; capacity 20U colonies. 



Rear view of Hull's bee-cellar. 



Fi 



iiit'.\'i''w ot lliiU's liet'-ci' 

 dust co\er the ceiling 



of the bee-ioom. 



E. F. Iloltermann, of Brantford, Ont., Can- 

 ada, an extensive bee-keeper of that prov- 



