1902 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



153 



moisture is apparent anywhere. It is car- 

 ried to its proper place outside. A candle 

 (I never take an oil-lamp) held close to the 

 cluster shows it dry. The bees just lie 

 there quiet as in sleep. Occasionally a 

 cluster appears sli.L^htly active, but the 

 next time this is quiet. 



The hives stand on benches 20 inches high 

 in front, 22 at the back. Four hives can 

 rest on each bench side by side, and four 

 hives can rest one on top of the other. 



It will be seen from the bench that the 

 back of the hive is 2 inches hi.i,'-her than the 

 front. I like the back of the brood-cham- 

 ber raised by means of two blocks ;>s inch 

 from the bottom-board, giving- a current of 



air through the hive. A warm cushion 

 should be placed on top of each hive, espe- 

 cially the top and bottom row. Strong lol- 

 onies so placed I like to winter at a cellar 

 temperature of 42 — perhaps even a lower 

 temperature will answer. If no cushions 

 are used, if the colonies are weak or the 

 bank a clay bank with more moisture, I 

 would raise the temperature some. Note, I 

 keep a thermometer in each cellar, sus- 

 pended about midway from ceiling to floor, 

 and midway between the fresh-air and 

 foul-air pipe. All these points are impor- 

 tant for comparison ; but to discuss the 

 question with profit we must get the condi- 

 tions and then compare; and let us not be 



-Vl^ 



Yyyyyyyyyy-^yyyyy-^yyyyyy^^^^ 



ELEVATION AND GROUND PLAN OF THE CELLAR. 



