270 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Outside air can be let in at any time by slides into both the bee-chamber and the 

 large cellar. Adjoining the bee-chamber is a smaller one provided with ventilators and 

 having a coal stove, so that, whenever necessary, fire can be made to raise the temperature 

 or purify the air of the whole cellar by increasing the ventilation. 



Experiments in Wintering (1896-97). 



Colonies put into winter quarters, 16th November, 1896. 



No. 1. — A repetition of experiment No. 1 of the former winter, with 15 colonies 

 of an average weight of 50 pounds and 15f ounces each. 



No. 2. — A repetition of experiment No. 2 of former winter, with two colonies 

 weighing respectively 49 pounds and 56 pounds. 



No. 3. — Two colonies weighing 60J pounds and 63 pounds were placed in the root 

 house of the Central Experimental Farm, which is 100 feet long, 25 feet wide and 10 

 feet deep. They are on a shelf nailed up against the side wall about 3 feet from the 

 ceiling and projecting about 2 feet. A curtain is hung from the wall over the top and 

 frofit of the hives, so as to keep out all the light. The propolis quilt of one of 

 these hives had been removed on 2nd November and a cushion put in in its place. 

 That of the other hive has been left and a cushion placed above it, but the front of the 

 hives has been raised half an inch more by means of an inch block in the middle of the 

 entrance. 



No. Jf.. — Two colonies weighing 50 pounds and 52 pounds, have been put into a pit 

 dug in the side of a hill 3 feet deep by 3 feet in width and 10 feet long, so that the 

 ventilators at both ends should not be immediately above the hives which are in the 

 middle of the pit. The hives rest on two cedar poles laid along the full length of the 

 pit. A third cedar pole of the same length is laid in front of the entrance of the hives 

 and insures the necessary circulation of the air from the ventilators. These ventilators 

 which are 3 inches by 4, are made of boards, three of which reach down to the bottom 

 of the pit, the fourth only to the top of the pit, and they rise 3 feet above the ground. 



In each hive half-inch strips of wood have been laid under both sides and under the 

 back end, between the brood chambers and the bottom boards, so as to provide more 

 space at the bottom of the hive in case a quantity of dead bees should accumulate there. 



The pit is filled up with loose straw up to four inches from the top, which is made 

 of cedar poles along the length of the pit, the middle ones higher than the others, covered 

 with a layer of straw and one foot of soil. 



A small shaft has also been arranged between the hives, down which a thei*mometer 

 can be let by means of a string, so that the temperature of the pit may be ascertained. 

 The thermometer is examined once every week. If the temperature rises too much, some 

 of the covering may be removed ; and if the contrary, some may be added. 



No. 5. — Two colonies, weighing 54 pounds, and 63 pounds., were put in a wood shed, 

 the walls of 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 are about one foot from the wall, resting on a double thickness of sacks 

 laid on the floor, and are covered above and all round with a double thickness of the 

 same sacking. No ventilation is provided for one hive. For the other, which is the one 

 that was kept in the shed during the summer, a small shaft, |-inch square, extends from 

 the opening of the hive to the outside of the shed, and |-inch strips of wood are put 

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

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

 bees should accumulate there. 



A Few Suggestions to Beginners in Apiculture. 



Locate your bee-yard in a well sheltered place, where no cold wind can chill the 

 brood. It will pay to build a high board fence if you cannot provide shelter in any other 

 way. 



Have no high trees near the apiary, for it is very difficult to get the swarms down 

 from them. 



