162 THE BEE-HIVES. 



331. In the ventilation of the hive, we should endeavor, as 

 far as possible, to meet the necessities of the bees, under a '.I 

 the vaiying circumstances to which they are exposed in our 

 micertain climate, whose severe extremes of temperature 

 forcibly impress upon the bee-keeper, the maxim of Viriril, 



''Utraque vis pariter apibus metueiula. " 

 "Extremes of heat or cold alike are hurtful to the bees." 



332. To be useful to the majority of bee-keepers, artificial 

 ventilation must be simple, and not as in Nutt's hive, and 

 other labored contrivances, so complicated as to require almost 

 as close supenision as a hot-bed or green-house. 



333. AVith an independent bottom-board, ventilation can 

 be given to any amount by raising the hive, as in fig. 71, or 

 even more. By furnishing ventilation independent of the 

 entrance, above the brood-chamber, or between the differ- 

 cMit surplus apartments, if necessaiy, we improve upon the 

 method which bees, in a state of nature, are compelled to 

 adept, when the openings in their hollow trees are so small, 

 that they must employ, in hot weather, a larger force in ven- 

 tilation, than would otherwise be necessaiy. 



It has been held that an upp^^r entrance to the brood- 

 chamber (fig. 71), with a sufficient amount of super room, is 

 an infallible preventive of swarming. It is, at least, a veiy 

 great help towards this result. 



335. The bees, finding their home more pleasant, will 

 cease to cluster on the outside, as long as there ^vi\\ be 

 h<»ney to gather, arid room to store it in. 



336. On the other hand, by the use of movable blocks, 

 the entrance maj' be kept so small, in cool weather, that only 

 a .single bee can go in at once, or it may be entirely closed. 



While sufficient airing must be given, the supply should 

 be controlled, so as not to injure the brood by admitting 

 too strong a current of chilly air. In the chapter on win- 

 tering bees, directions are given for placing absorb- 



