266 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



I am of the opinion that this colony perished from being kept too warm and for 

 want of sufficient ventilation. 



Experiment No. 4- — This experiment is very similar to the last, but no ventilation 

 was provided, it having been claimed by one of our correspondents that he had always 

 wintered bees satisfactorily in this way. 



The bottom board of the hive was removed and the hive was stood on four blocks 

 \^ inches high, one under each corner, placed right on the bottom of the packing case, 

 which was then filled in with dry saw-dust, four inches all round and above, as in 

 Experiment 3, except that no shaft for ventilation was cut through to the outside of the 

 packing case ; but immediately beneath the hive there was a narrow crack between the 

 boards of the packing case, not y^ of an inch wide. The packing case itself was raised 

 about an inch off the earthen floor in the stone cellar by means of small blocks. 



On 22nd November the hive weighed 49 pounds. No sound could be heard in it all 

 winter. On 15 th April the bees were found all dead on the bottom board and appeared 

 to have died early in the winter, as scarcely any honey was consumed and the combs 

 were dry and clean. Weight on 15th April, 47^ pounds. It is plain that this plan 

 cannot be recommended. 



Experiment No. 6. — One colony was placed in a packing case large enough to allow of 

 4 inches of cut straw and chaff being packed all round the hive, and the box was left out 

 of doors in a sheltered place on the ground in the yard. Bottom board loosened and 1- 

 inch blocks put at each corner between bottom board and brood chamber. Wooden 

 cover also replaced by 4-inch chaff cushion, and box filled up with 4 inches of chaff and 

 cut straw. No ventilation. 



The case was, besides, buried under a foot of snow shovelled upon it. No sound could 

 be heard from this hive during the winter till it was taken out on 15th April; the 

 weight had been reduced from 57 pounds in November to 49J pounds, the bees having 

 consumed 7f pounds. On being taken out, the hive was found very wet and mouldy 

 with a thickness of about two inches of dead bees on the bottom ; two frames only 

 were partly filled with bees. Water had evidently come in from the outside, which 

 would have been avoided if the hive had been raised about one foot from the ground, 

 and the results might then have been much better. 



On 1st May the bees from this hive were gathering pollen, but were few in number. 

 May 14 : — Colony very weak, but queen apparently in good condition; two f rimes with 

 brood and eggs and new honey. June 1 : — Hive deserted, though plenty of stores 

 remaining; 11^ pounds of new honey in the brood chamber. 



Experiment No. 6. — One colony packed exactly as No. 5, but with ventilating shaft 

 from entrance to the outside of the case which was placed three feet from the ground on 

 the top of an empty case out of doors. 



No sound could be heard from this hive all winter up to the 1st April, when a 

 slight hum was perceptible. On 8th April the first bees made their appearance, some 

 flying in the evening ; there were many dead bees at the entrance ; outside temperature, 

 44° F. From the 8th to 14th April, on warm days, a few bees were noticed flying. 

 On 15th April the hive was taken out of the packing case and found to be deserted ; 

 many dead bees lay at the back end of the hive : the frames above were all dry and clean. 



The hive when put into the case on 22nd November, weighed 51 pounds; when 

 taken out on 15th April, 39^ pounds, 11| pounds of honey having been consumed. 



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



Hives put in the cellar as they came from the bee-yard with the tops and bottoms 

 on (No. 2), had nob sufficient ventilation. Dampness caused dysentery. 



In the hive packed in saw-dust with no ventilation (No. 4,) the bees were 

 smothered ; in the hive similarly treated but with ventilation (No. 3,) the colony was 

 much weakened by heat, dampness and insufficient ventilation. 



The hives packed in chaff and left out of doors, one on the ground without ventila- 

 tion (No 5) and the other with a ventilating shaft (No. 6), seem to have both been 



