1902 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



151 



those liable to catch cold run great risk; 

 but raise the temperature, and the evil from 

 the diimpuess is largely overcome. Again, 

 I can be comfortable with an overcoat on 

 when I would catch cold without it. When 

 the temperature of a cellar is discussed, 

 would it not be well to know whether the 

 wooden covers or cushions are on the hive 

 or not? A lower temperature will answer 

 if the cushions are on the hives to prevent 

 heat from passing off. Again, where the 

 humidity is great the temperature must be 

 higher. 



I previously spoke of ventilation. I can 

 understand that, the more perfect the condi- 

 tions, the less movement and activity of the 

 bees, and the less atmosphere is consumed, 

 and the less stores are consumed; but if 

 there is no supply of fresh air in time, the 

 air })iusf become damp and vitiated, and 

 then the bees become restless and active, 

 and rapidly consume more stores, use more 

 air, and wear themselves out. Again, weak 

 colonies can stand a higher temperature. 

 The strong generate more heat. These are 

 all questions that require consideration. If 

 the cellar is poorly constructed the air gets 

 in and out here and there, and an uncertain 

 quantity is supplied in this way. 



HOW MR. HOLTERMANN COMES TO BE ASSO- 

 CIATED WITH BEE WORK AGAIN. 



Last summer I found mj'self for some two 

 years out in evangelistic work. During 

 that time I was almost entirely in the back 

 districts — those neglected on account of in- 

 ability to help financially, but in which 

 there was much blessing. During that 

 time I spent not iny own money, but what 

 the Lord had made me steward of, and 

 what I am afraid many call their own. 

 When that was exhausted I looked around 

 to do as Paul did — went to " tent-making," 

 and I preached when opportunity arose. 

 At Brantford, or within two miles and a 

 half of it, there is a wealthy stock compa- 

 ny — The Bow Park Company, Limited. 

 They have over 1000 acres of land, often 

 over 1000 hogs, several hundred head of 

 fattening steers, sheep, etc. They also 

 make pickles, having about 45 acres in cu- 

 cumbers alone. The blossoms of these, last 

 year, were much appreciated by the bees. 

 They have about 150 acres in alfalfa, and 

 will have a large area in alsike clover. 

 These people having the capital, I proposed 

 going extensiveU' into the bee business, they 

 to furnish the capital and I to manage, and 

 share in the proceeds. They, having plenty 

 'if monej' awaiting suitable investment, con- 

 sented, and we decided, in addition to pro- 

 ducin'^,'- honey, to sell bees and queens, to 

 mnnufncture hone}^ vinegar, and, when 

 suitable opportunity offered, buy honey to 

 sell again. The company has also an ex- 

 tensive pork-packing plant, and intends to 

 make honey-cured ham and bacon; and the 

 travelers selling pork, bacon, lard, and 

 pickles, could also push honey vinegar and 

 honey. Mr. J. M. Shuttlevvorth, the presi- 

 dent of the company, is also connected with 



a company, the most extensve exporters of 

 apples, probably, in America, for they have 

 agencies in Boston and New York. It is, 

 therefore, the intention to export honey. It 

 would pay more such firms to engage in the 

 handling of honey, and get in touch with 

 bee-keepers; and it would also be an ad- 

 vantage to bee-keepers to get honey more 

 extensively distributed, as well as products 

 from honey. 



PLANNING A BEE-CELLAR. 



Our first step was to plan a bee-cellar — 

 one in which a large number of colonies 

 could be wintered, and wintered well. You, 

 as editor of Gleanings, situated at Medi- 

 na, O., know that, in establishing and run- 

 ning a business, the profit often consists 

 only in what you can save in manageinent. 

 What one man throws away is another 

 man's living and profit. That bee-keep- 

 ing has not been cut down to this, I believe; 

 and yet the most successful man must take 

 into account everj^ detail. In Ontario — in 

 fact, Canada — and doubtless in many por- 

 tions of the United States, with the best 

 cellar wintering, and the best outside win- 

 tering, the bee-keeper can save 7 lbs. of 

 honey by cellar wintering. The bees do 

 not require to generate as much heat, and 

 the teinperature does not vary as greatl}-. 

 Variations of temperature disturb the bees; 

 increised consumption of stores causes in- 

 creased loss of vitality. The loss in this 

 direction can be estimated only very broad- 

 ly- Again, an outer case suitable for this 

 climate costs 50 cts. or more. It is our in- 

 tention to establish out-apiaries until at 

 least 500 colonies are run. A saving of 7 

 lbs. per colony on 500 colonies would be 

 3500 lbs. In wintering, cases would cost 

 at least $250. During prolonged and stead}^ 

 cold, wintering becomes uncertain; and we 

 considered, in view of this fact, that a honey- 

 house, work-shop, and store-room was re- 

 quired — tliat is. it would pay us to build a 

 first-class cellar, and the house above. The 

 cellar is intended to hold the 500 colonies. 



The size is 40X24, and 7 feet in height in 

 the clear. The entire cellar is below the 

 level of the ground. It is built in a sand- 

 bank; is double- walled with a 9-inch wall 

 outside, a 3 "2 -inch wall inside, and a 2- 

 inch space between. The ceiling above is 

 a double floor. The first floor is matched 

 lumber; then a heavy felt paper; then J^k- 

 inch strips and a tongue-and-grooved floor 

 above. The cellar floor is cement; and. 

 laid in the cement, is a board floor. There 

 is one stairway coming froin outside. This 

 is for summer use, and is the stairway- 

 down whicli the bees are carried for win- 

 ter, and out of which they are taken for 

 spring. Another stairway goes down from 

 the shop above, and is for winter use. The 

 object of this construction was to secure 

 thorough isolation and no ventilation through 

 the wall. If ventilation comes, here, there, 

 and ever3-where through the walls, the bee- 

 keeper hiis no control over it, and it may 

 come in when he least requires it. Bj' hav- 

 ing a proper ventilator, one which can be 



