296 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



guard agaiust the cold of winter than 

 against the heat of the sun in early 

 spring. This disposition of the entrance 

 provides also against the prevailing winds 

 of winter. By thus taking advantage of 

 a slope an entrance on a level can be 

 made very easily by the removal of no 

 great amount of earth, if the slope be at 

 all marked. If no slope is to be had, a 

 stairway may be made to serve b}- mak- 

 ing it wide, strong and of an easy slope 

 with no riser at the top to be stepped 

 over. 



As to the charac- 

 ter of the soil to be 

 preferred for a cel- 

 lar, I should select 

 a gravel, sandy or 

 other porous soil, to 

 secure the recep- 

 tacle against damp- 

 ness. This is not 

 imperative, for, 

 with good food, 

 bees, I have no 

 doubt, will winter 

 as well in a damp 

 place as in a dry 

 one; but it is a com- 

 fort to have the 

 combs and hives 

 free from mold and 

 moisture. If there 

 be any danger of 

 the accumulation of 

 water in the cellar 

 from anj' source, a 

 drain should, of 

 course, be provided 

 for its removal. 



JAMES r. HARRIS, Graud Junction, Colo 



President of the National Association 



for IC04. 



THE PROPER SIZE FOR A CELLAR. 



In deciding upon the dimensions of the 

 cellar, it would be well to allow two 

 square feet of floor surface for each col- 

 ony it is to accommodate at any one time. 

 Thus a cellar 20x20 ft. or 16x25 ft- could 

 be made to accommodate 200 colonies. 

 But it must not be overlooked that col- 

 onies are variable quantities. 200 colonies 

 at the end of a favorable season might 

 easily equal, in heat evolving capacity, 



400 colonies at the end of a very unfavor- 

 able season. The 200 colonies in such a 

 case would be likel}- to overheat a cellar 

 of the size suggested in the absence of 

 extra care. 



THE WALLS, COVER TO THE CELLAR AND 

 CELLAR DOOR. 



The walls should be of solid, perman- 

 ent material, at least seven feet in heighth 

 and sunk in the earth almost their entire 

 extent, allowing tlietn to reach above the 

 surface bareH- 

 enough to accom- 

 modate a slight em- 

 b a n k m e n t suf- 

 ficient to turn sur- 

 face water. The 

 siiperstrn cture, 

 whether a honey 

 house, shop or other 

 structure, would 

 greatly favor the 

 cellar if it be made 

 to extend bey on I 

 that, on the south 

 and west sides. The 

 cellar should be 

 ceiled and covered 

 over, between the 

 joists, with four or 

 five inches of dr^' 

 saw dust, or some 

 equivalent, provid- 

 ed before the floor 

 of the superstruc- 

 ture is laid. I have 

 made no provision 

 for windows, and I 

 do not consider 

 them any advantage. A double door to the 

 entrance would do no harm, but it is not 

 necessary in this latitude, if the entrance 

 is on the side opposite the prevailing 

 winds of winter and a hundred or more 

 good colonies are to occupy the cellar of 

 the size mentioned. 



Of course, it nuist not be understood 

 that a cellar for bees must necessarily be 

 under a building; one well covered with 

 earth, with a roof over all, would, ])er- 

 haps, be better than one under a build- 



