1909 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



163 



hillside, the problem is comparatively simple; 

 for let A, B, C, D, Fig. 1, represent a vertical 

 section of the cellar, and M A the surface of the 

 ground. Then in cold weather, the outdoor air 

 entering the pipe P will be warmed; and, being 



FIG. 1. 



lighter than that outside, will rise, enter at D; 

 and, if the current is not too strong, it will dif- 

 fuse throughout the cellar before passing out at 

 C. The strength of the current can be regulated 

 by varying the size of the opening O. The open- 

 ing B should, of course, be kept closed in cold 

 weather. When the air outside becomes warmer 

 than the earth, the air entering the pipes P and Q 

 is cooled; but, since the cellar is warmer than the 

 ground, due to heat generated by the bees, the 

 air will pass in at C and D, and upward and out 

 at B which should now be left open to carry off 

 off heat and moisture. 



With a cellar on level ground the problem be- 

 comes more difficult. The air will not circulate 

 properly except as forced through by wind pres- 

 sure or by some artificial means. Again, let A, 

 B, C, D, Fig. 2, represent a vertical section of 



FIG. 2. 



the cellar. Let P and Q represent the under- 

 ground pipes, and A and B openings at the top. 

 Let the wind pressure be in the direction AB. 

 Suppose A and B are open, and C and D closed. 

 The cold air entering at A, being heavier, will 

 fall to the bottom, displacing warm air, which 

 will pass out at B. The cooling will also tend 

 to condense any moisture within the hives, bring- 

 ing about a condition noi at all desirable. 



Suppose, next, that the air outside is warmer 

 than that within. The warm air will then move 

 directly across from A to B, removing some of 

 the moisture, but not greatly changing the tem- 

 perature of the cellar. 



Next, suppose A and C open and B and D 

 closed, and the weather cold. The current will 

 be downward, condensing the moisture and chill- 

 ing the bees. If warm outside, the temperature 

 inside will be raised. Suppose, again, A and C 

 closed, and B and D open; the air from D will 

 rise and carry off both heat and moisture, and 

 the tendency will be toward a strong current in 

 cold weather. 



Again, let A and B be closed and C and D 

 open. In cold weather the air entering at D, if 

 not permitted to pass too rapidly, will become 

 diffused and pass out at C, not greatly lowering 

 the temperature, but removing moisture. This 

 isjan ideal arrangement provided the strength of 

 the air current can be properly regulated; but 



wind pressure is a varying quantity, and experi- 

 ment shows that the current through the under- 

 ground tile is quite strong when the wind is blow- 

 ing. Lastly, suppose the temperature outside 

 higher than that of the earth, and ventilators C 

 and D open and A and B closed. The air within, 

 warmed by the activity of the bees, will have no 

 chance to escape, nor will the water vapor, since 

 both rise to the top. The air entering at D will 

 pass directly across to C. 



To summarize, we may say that, during cold 

 weather, only bottom ventilators should be open; 

 but when the weather becomes warm, both bot- 

 tom and top should be opened to allow the cool 

 air to enter at the bottom, and the warm moist 

 air to escape at the top. 



We will now consider briefly some of the arti- 

 ficial means of ventilation. There are several 

 ways in which a current of air may be produced, 



fi..-*v<«N'<^ 



FIG. 3. 



most of which are not practicable for the bee- 

 keeper. The most common mode is to extend a 

 chimney or pipe downward from a room above, 

 as shown in Fig. 3. S is a stove; C the chim- 

 ney open at F. With A open and D closed, as 

 is quite common, the arrangement is worse than 

 useless in cold weather, nor is it desirable at any 

 time. With A closed and D open, moisture 

 may be removed without cooling the cellar ap- 

 preciably. In warm weather E and D should be 

 open and A and F closed. 



..W*-.'-...._.^.,.^....._A 



FIG. 4. 



In Fig. 4 vyarm air passed down AD enters at 

 K and finds its exit by way of the chimney at F. 

 This is a very good way of ventilating provided 

 the air in the room above is of the proper temper- 

 ature; and, secondly, that the current is sufficient 

 to accomplish the desired results. It will be 

 found by experiment that very little air will pass 

 down AD unless the cellar is tight and all outside 

 openings closed. If the air in the room above is 

 cold, all openings through the floor should be 

 kept closed, as cold air will run in at the top like 

 water into a cistern. 



The tile for bottom ventilators should be at 

 least six inches in diameter, and the outside en- 



