162 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mar 15 



used in the beet-sugar-producing districts. We 

 have a large beet-sugar factory at Grand Junc- 

 tion, jet cane sugar is shipped here in large 

 quantities. I have not been able to get exact 

 figures; but averaging the estimates of the lead- 

 ing grocers indicates that at least fifteen carloads 

 of cane sugar are shipped in annually, nearly all 

 being retailed within half a mile of the beet-su- 

 gar factory. There are, perhaps, several reasons 

 wny this is so. Some people say they do not like 

 tne beet sugar; some say it does not keep fruit as 

 well. Probably the majority of those who ob- 

 ject to it do so because of the large amount of 

 blueing in it, used to make it look white. Just 

 why the sugar- manufacturers should be permit- 

 ted to blue their sugar, apparently in plain viola- 

 tion of the pure-food laws, is a question I have 

 not seen answered. Another reason that I think 

 influences a great many is exasperation at the 

 hoggish action of the sugar trust in compelling 

 those who live within sight of the sugar-factory, 

 and who, by their poorly paid labor at raising 

 the beets, make the success of sugar production 

 possible, to pay a higher price for sugar than the 

 consumer a thousand miles away pays for the 

 same article. On this account they will not use 

 beet sugar at all, as a matter of principle. Un- 

 fortunately they are deluding themselves in this, 

 as the amalgamation of the beet and cane sugar 

 interests, only suspected before, is now an open- 

 ly acknowledged fact, so that they must pay their 

 tribute to the trust, whichever kind they use. 



CLOTH COVtRS FOR BROOD-CHAMBERS. 



Doubtless the most satisfactory all-around cov- 

 er to go next to the super or brood-chamber is a 

 board held by the sides of the hive a bee-space 

 above the frames or sections. In fact, nothing 

 else ought to be used above the sections unless 

 the tops of the sections are protected in some 

 way. But in our dry climate, covers have such 

 a habit of warping that it is difficult to find one 

 that will close the top of the hive tight without 

 the aid of the bees, who will seal such cracks 

 with propolis if they are given the opportunity. 

 But if this sealing at the top of the hive has been 

 disturbed after the time when the bees can gather 

 and work propolis, these cracks remain open. 

 Besides, the cover that was tight in the fall may 

 have warped so as to leave wide cracks in the 

 spring, so that there is great loss of heat at a time 

 when it is highly important that all the heat of 

 the hive be preserved, so that brood rearing will 

 not be retarded by this loss of heat, and, conse- 

 quently, of vitality. On account of this I prefer 

 to use cloth covers during the winter and spring. 

 "Quilts "some people call them; though why 

 they should be given this name is more than I 

 can tell. If these cloths are put over the hive at 

 a time when propolis is not being deposited free- 

 ly, the bees are apt to gnaw holes in them. In 

 order to prevent this I prefer to give them a coat- 

 ing that will make them more satisfactory to the 

 bees. The best way I have found to do this is 

 to take a pound of beeswax, a pound of rosin, 

 and half a pound of tallow, and melt them to- 

 gether. While still melted (not boiling hot) take 

 the vessel containing it out of doors a safe dis- 

 tance from any fire, and, while stirring it vigor- 

 ously, pour into it a gallon of gasoline. Lay 

 your cloths on a board or sheet of tin, and paint 

 them with this mixture, then hang them up to 



dry, which will take only a short time. Thin 

 the mixture with more gasoline, if it needs it. 

 Articles of clothing, tents, wagon-covers, etc., 

 may be water-proofed in the same way very sa'- 

 isfactorily. 



THEORY OF CELLAR VENTILATION. 



Various Methods Scientifically Discussed. 



BY E. S. MILLER. 



[ rue following article treat;, of the science of ventilation in a 

 masterly manner. Everyone who winters indoors, or who ex- 

 pects to build a bee-cellar next fall, should read this carefully. 

 It is not difficult to understand; and if the principles here set 

 forth are mastered, hundreds of colonies will be saved. — Ed.] 



The problem of cellar ventilation is to the 

 bee-keeper an important one; but, judging by 

 the construction of most bee-cellars, the princi- 

 ples are apparently not well understood. In con- 

 sidering this question the following facts should 

 be kept in mind: 



1. That warm air, volume for volume, is light- 

 er than cold air, and will rise to the top of the 

 cellar. 



2. That moist air is lighter than dry air, and 

 will rise. 



3. That, while the moisture is more apparent 

 at the bottom, owing to condensation, there is 

 really more water vapor at the top because of 

 higher temperature, and the consequently greater 

 capacity of the air for moisture. 



4. If cold air is admitted at the top it will pass 

 downward, cooling and condensing the moisture, 

 especially that within the hives, while the warm 

 air escapes. 



5. If there is a considerable number of colo- 

 nies in the cellar, the temperature within will al- 

 ways be several degrees higher than that of the 

 earth, no matter what may be the temperatuie 

 outside; hence the air within will tend to move 

 upward and out. It follows that, in order to 

 ventilate a cellar properly, it must, with the ex- 

 ception of ventilating-flues, be practically air- 

 tight. 



It is generally conceded that, in order to insure 

 the best results, the cellar must not only be kept 

 reasonably dry, but also that there should be 

 maintained a nearly constant temperature with a 

 minimum of about 45° F., and a maximum of 

 about 50°. A temperature below 45° will terd 

 to condense moisture; while if much above 50°, 

 the bees will be likely to become restless. Fur- 

 thermore, there should be some means of removing 

 any noxious gases or foul odors, and of constant- 

 ly supplying pure air at the proper temperature. 



In general there are two ways of securing the 

 above conditions; fiist, by taking advantage of 

 the differences between the nearly constant tem- 

 perature of the earth and that of the air within 

 and without the cellar; and, secondly, by the 

 use of artificial means — for example, the burning 

 of fuel in stoves or furnaces. 



Let us suppose a cellar extending eight feet un- 

 der ground, frost-proof at the top, and, with the 

 exception of flues, made practically air-tight by 

 being plastered within, and with door and win- 

 dows tight. Let us suppose, also, there are two 

 or more underground pipes of six or eight inch 

 tile extending 25 feet or more at a depth of five 

 to eight feet. With the cellar upon or near a 



