248 EXPEItlMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



They were watched for dampness, mould, or dysentery, also to compare the amount of 

 honey consumed. Temperature of cellar the same as in Experiment No. 1. During 

 December and January all were very quiet. During February there was considerable 

 humming. Drops of water were noticed along the entrances of three hives. There 

 were but very few dead bees on the bottom board and no sign of dyssntery. On ex- 

 amination when set on their summer stands, two of the hives had considerable moulded 

 combs. The average weight when put into winter quarters, 58 pounds 10 oz. ; when 

 taken out on April 22, 49 pounds 3 ozr., showing that the average loss of each hive was 

 9 pounds 7 oz. 



II. — WJNTERING BEES IN DAMP CELLARS. 



Many letters are received inquiring whether a damp cellar is a fit place to winter 

 bees in. An experiment was conducted during the winter of 1902-3, with three 

 colonies of bees. During last winter it was thought advisable to try the same experi- 

 ment (A) with a larger number of colonies — ^six — and another (B), also with six col- 

 onies with a larger amount of moisture. 



In both experiments the six colonies were selected, all of about equal strength, 

 and all in Langstroth hives, weighing on an average 58 pounds each at the beginning, 

 of the experiment. The wooden covers were removed from the hives and replaced with 

 propolis quilts ; the bottom of each hive was loosened from the brood chamber, and 

 a block two inches square was placed at each corner between the bottom board and the 

 trood chamber, insuring free ventilation from the bottom of each hive. The cellar 

 was kept at a very even temperature of 44 to 48 degrees, and was well ventilated dur- 

 ing the whole winter. The six hives in each experiment were resting on the edges 

 of seven pails of water, the full surface of the water being exposed. 



A. — The bees could be seen hanging below the frames in a quiet cluster all winter. 

 The hives were all examined once each week, and at no time did there appear to be 

 any sign of uneasiness from the extra moisture. There were scarcely any dead bees 

 on any of the bottom boards nor any sign of dysentery, and all came out in excellent 

 condition. The colonies were set out on their summer stands on March 20; the day 

 being fine and warm, all began to fly at once. The average weight of the six col'- 

 onies when set on their summer stands was 44^ pounds each. From March 20 to April 

 5, the weather was cool, and no flying took place up to the latter date, which was a 

 good bright warm day. After this the bees had to remain in their hives until April 

 22, when the weather became warm again. They then built up rapidly and were in 

 excellent condition for the honey flow. 



B. — A second exijeriment was tried in which the amount of moisture in the at- 

 mosphere of the cellar was increased in the following way: Besides the seven pails 

 of water placed on the floor with the six hives resting on the edges of these pails, 

 allowing the full surface of the water to be exposed, six inches of sand was spread on 

 the cellar floor between the pails and covering six inches of the floor outside of the 

 pails. There was also a large cotton sheet spread over the six hives. The sand and 

 sheet were kept thoroughly saturated with water which was poured on them once each 

 week during the winter. 



The be2s in this test were more uneasy than in the experiment first described 

 where no sand or cotton covering was used, having to keep up fanning for ventilation. 

 There were also a great many more dead bees on the bottom boards and several hives 

 had drops of water along the entrance, but there was no sign of dysentery. On March 

 20, the day being fine, the colonies were removed to the bee-yard, where all began 

 flying at once. The average weight of the six colonies when set on their summer 

 stands, was 44:J pounds each. From March 20 to April 22 the bees had but one good 

 flight. After April 22 the weather became considerably warmer; the colonies began 

 building up rapidly, and were in excellent condition for the clover bloom. 



Tiie average strength of the six colonies that had the extra moisture was not as 

 great as in the former test, but as soon as they got fine weather they gained rapidly. 



