214 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Temperature was taken once a week all through the winter : 



November, 46 to 47 degrees. February, 46 to 50 degrees. 



December, 47 to 48 " March. 48 " 



January, 44 to 46 " 



The bees were quiet, only a very slight hum being noticeable up to February, when, 

 the temperature having risen to 50, the bees began to get uneasy and make considerable 

 hum. Cold air was carefully let in during the night by opening the slides in the doors 

 at night and closing them in the morning ; this lowered the temperature and the bees 

 quieted down. During the past winter every colony in this experiment was perfectly 

 dry and clean, and all came out in excellent condition. 



Averaf'e weight of each hive when put into winter quarters, 53|- pounds ; when 

 taken out on 26th March, 44^ pounds per hive, showing that each hive had lost 9 

 pounds on the average, which is very much less than the usual amount. This small 

 amount is owing to the comfortable cellar. In former years, before this same cellar 

 was arranged as it is, the hives lost on an average 20 pounds, which represented the 

 weight of honey consumed during the winter. 



Experiment No. 2. — Two colonies were put into the cellar on 12th November, with 

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

 They were watched for dampness, and to compare the amount of honey consumed. 

 Temperature of cellar the same as in No. 1. During December and January both hives 

 made considerable hum. 27th December, drops of wat^r were noticed all along the 

 entrance of both hives. This same trouble continued in January, when they were both 

 given more ventilation at the bottom by a three-inch block being placed in front 

 between the bottom board and the brood chamber. During February and March both 

 hives got perfectly dry and quiet. 26th March, both hives were removed to their 

 summer stands in fairly good condition ; one had spots of faeces on the entrances ; both 

 hives were damp and the combs were slightly mouldy, but there were very few dead 

 bees in either hive. Average weight of each hive when put into winter quarters, 62^- 

 pounds ; when taken out on 26th March, 48 pounds, showing that each hive had lost 

 14^ pounds per hive. Another examination was made on 23rd April, when both were 

 found building up" rapidly as the season was favourable. 21st May, both in excellent 

 condition for a honey flow. 



Experiment No. 5. —Two colonies stored in a root-house. The hives were placed 

 on a shelf nailed up against the wall, ateout 3 feet from the ceiling and projecting 2 

 feet. A curtain was hung from the wall over the top and down in front of the hives 

 so as to keep out all light ; wooden covers removed and replaced with a chaff cushion. 

 A strip of wood 2' by 2 inches was placed all along both sides between the brood- 

 chamber and the bottom board, so as to give more ventilation at the bottom, both back 

 and front were left wide open. In former years the hives kept in the root-house did 

 not appear to have ventilation enough ; this extra space has proved very satisfactory. 

 Temperature was taken every Monday of each week. November, highest temperature, 

 38, lowest 36 ; both hives quite dry but very noisy. December, highest temperature, 

 42, lowest 36; both colonies were very noisy, but were perfectly dry ; mice had found 

 their way into both hives and disturbed the bees : some strips of tin put around pre- 

 vented tiiem getting in again. January, highest temperature, 41, lowest, 39 ; during 

 January, both hives had drops of water along the entrance and were making consider- 

 able sound ; ho trouble from mice this month. February, temperature 38 to 39, both 

 hives were very much drier, and by the end of the month they were perfectly dry and 

 fairly quiet. March, highest temperature 40, lowest 36, both hives were very noisy 

 and quite damp. 26th March : Both hives removed to bee yard. Both colonies showed 

 signs of dysentery, dampness and mould, bub were very strong in numbers. 



Average weight of each hive when put in in autumn of 1897, 57 pounds, 12 

 ounces; spring 1898, 44 pounds, 12 ounces; a loss of 13 pounds. On 23rd April 

 another examination was made. Both hives were building up and in excellent con- 

 dition for a honey flow. 



Experiment No. Jf.. — November 12. Two colonies were put into a pit dug in the side 

 of a hill, 3 feet deep, 3 feet wide, and 10 feet long, in such a way that the ventilators 



