REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 247 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



always kept in the cellar, is watched. The best temperature for the bee cellar has been 

 found to be from 42 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit. This arrangement has given entire 

 satisfaction. In former years there was not proper ventilation, and the cellar was 

 always damp. Since the concrete floor has been laid and the ventilators have been put 

 in, the cellar has been much drier and cleaner. It is also rat and mouse proof, which 

 is £ very great advantage. 



Experiment No. 1. — TJie tops of the hives replaced hy chaff cushions and the brood 



chambers raised at the bade. 



Six colonies were put into winter quarters in the cellar and placed on the shelves. 

 Under the back end of each hive was placed a three-inch block; each hive was, besides, 

 raised from its bottom board by a one-inch block being placed at the back so as to 

 ensure free ventilation. All front entrances were left wide open ; the wooden covers 

 were all removed and replaced with cushions made of chaff 4 inches thick, sufficiently 

 wide and long to lap over the hive two inches. Temperatures were taken 

 once each week all through the winter and were kept very even, from 

 44 to 48 degrees. The bees were quiet, only a very slight hum being noticeable up 

 to February, when the temperature having risen to 48, the bees began to get uneasy 

 and made considerable hum. Cold air was carefully let in during the night 

 by opening the slides in the doors and closing them in the morning; this, of course, 

 lowered the temperature, and the bees quieted down. During the past winter every 

 colony in this experiment was perfectly dry and clean, end all came out in excellent 

 condition. Average weight of each hive when put into winter quarters, 58^ pounds; 

 when taken out on April 22, 49| pounds per hive, showing that each hive had lost Oj 

 pounds on an average. 



Experiment No. 2. — Tops replaced by chaff cushions and the brood chambers raissd. 



in front. 



Six colonies were put into the cellar and placed on the shelves, a three-inch block 

 being placed only in front, between the bottom board and the brood-chamber, 

 making the full entrance three inches high across the whole front. The wooden 

 covers were removed and replaced with a chaff cushion. Temperature the same as in 

 Experiment No. 1. During the whole winter all the colonies in this experiment were 

 perfectly dry and clean and showed no uneasiness of any kind. The bees could be 

 seen hanging in a quiet cluster below the frames any time during the winter. The 

 average weight when put into winter quarters on November 23 was 59 pounds 12 oz. ; 

 when taken out on April 22, 51 pounds 8 oz., showing that each hive had lost on an 

 average 8 pounds 4 ounces. 



Experiment No. S. — Tops replaced by propolis quilts. 



Six colonies were put into the cellar and placed on the shelves, with the bottoms of 

 the hives left on, just as they were brought in from the bee-yard. The wooden covers 

 were removed and nothing left on except a tightly sealed propolis quilt; the natural 

 entrance was left wide open. Temperature of cellar same as in Experiment No. 1. 

 During the entire winter the bees kept perfectly dry, and only a very slight hum could 

 be heard. There were but very few dead bees on the bottom board, and no sign of 

 dysentery. On examination when set on their summer stands all the hives were found 

 to be in first-class condition. The average weight when put into winter quartern 

 y;ovember 23 was 59 pounds 15 oz.; when taken out on April 22, 51 pounds 3 oz., show- 

 ing that on an average each had lost 8 pounds 12 oz. 



Experiment No. 4- — Tops and bottoms of hives left on. 



Six colonies were put into the cellar and placed on the shelves, with tops and 

 bottom boards of the hives left on, just as they were brought in from the bee-yard. 



