262 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



iiiL; soUition of the wintoring problem. 

 I had two ventih\ting tubes or pipes, 

 14 inches square, one in each bee- 

 room, I'eaehing from near the Uoor in- 

 side into the chamber, which I venti- 

 lated by a cupola mounted on the cen- 

 ter of the house, where the chimney 

 now ai^pears, and connecting; with the 

 chamber. This elaborate system of 

 ventilation Avas all properly controll- 

 ed by valves and traps, and desiijned 

 to carry out the vitiated air somewhat 

 as a chimney carries out smoke, so 

 that the bees would keep in a healthy 

 condition. It did not meet my ex- 

 pectation. The draft was the wrong 

 way. and I abandoned the whole 

 schenie as worse than useless, with 

 no little disappointment. 



FRKSH, OUTSIDE AIR TOWARD SPRING 

 NOT DESIRABLE. 



I used to open the outside door to 

 admit the fresh, cool air at nijilit to 

 quiet the bees down when they became 

 restless, but I am sure it is a mistake 

 to ventilate in that Avay. The bees 

 will surely become quiet after admit- 

 ting the fresh air. and lowering the 

 temperature, but they Avill not stay 

 quiet. It only increases the impulse 

 to rear brood, just the difficulty 

 that already exists. I have 

 been able to keep the bees in 

 better condition by excluding the 

 outside air mitil the bees can be 

 set out. I have never been able to 

 maintain a uniform temperature in the 

 bee-rooms, nor have I found it essen- 

 tial to successful wintering. A high 

 temperature I find much safer than 

 a low one; especially after the brood 

 rearing begins at the approach of 

 spring. By a high temperature I do 

 not mean warm enough to drive the 

 bees out of the hives, or to permit 

 them to scatter over the room to die. 



I have often been able to maintain 

 a temperature of 60 degrees for a con- 



siderable time without serious conse- 

 (luenccs. but not much above that. 

 About 45 degrees has been gen- 

 erally accepted as nearly right for tlie 

 winter repository. This is Avell enough 

 for the fore part of the Avinter, but I 

 prefer nearly r»0 degrees, or even a lit- 

 tle higher, towards the end of the sea- 

 son. In order to secure this high tem- 

 ]tM-:itin'e, I must dept>nd upon the 

 wai-mth generated by the bees. 



Kxperience has enabled me to de- 

 tcrniint> about how many bees it Avill 

 \)v safe to i)hu'e in a room, and be able 

 .'ilso to control the rising temperature 

 in the spring. 



For the last tAvo winters I have put 

 all of the b(>es in one room, holding 

 tlie othei- two in reserve to supply 

 fresh air, and have it under my con- 

 trol. 



Last Av inter I put 110 strong colo- 

 nies in one room in this Avay. almost 

 as many as I Avould have put in both 

 rooms, if both had been used, and with 

 much better success in controlling the 

 conditions to my liking. I Avas pleas- 

 ed with the res\ilts and it suggests 

 some valuable improAements in the 

 construction of winter repositories. 



BENEFIT OF ARTIFICIAIv HEAT. 



I have had considerable experience 

 with artificial heat, for a good many 

 years, and it has usually been attend- 

 (Hl with good results. I often build a 

 lire in the stove in the ante-room of 

 my bee-house when the temperature 

 keeps too low. By Avarming first this 

 room. I can so gradually and gently 

 raise the temperature in the bee-rooms 

 that the bees only respond in a Ioaa- 

 nuu-mur— a sure acknoAvledgement of 

 their comfort and contentment. 



The draft of the stove carries out 

 the vitiated air near the floor, and that 

 without admitting any drafts of fresh 

 air from the outside. Here, then, is the 

 perfect ventilator. 



