1168 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



us to maintain the desirable temperature. That such a room 

 should always be just right, a tube the size of a small stove- 

 pipe should run from near its bottom to connect with the pipe 

 of a stove in the room above which is much used in winter. 

 Another larger pipe of tile should run one or two hundred feet 

 under ground below the influence of out-door temperature, con- 

 necting the bottom of the cellar with the outer air. Thus when- 

 ever a fire burns in the room above the air is drawn from the 

 cellar, and its place taken by other air drawn through the long 

 sub-earth pipe from out-doors. This tempers the temperature in 

 rigorous winter, and cools it when the weather warms up in 

 spring. The cellar should by all means be mouse-proof. I believe 

 if bees are properly prepared they will always winter in such a 

 cellar. 



To prepare bees for winter they should be kept breeding till 

 autumn by feeding if necessary ; should be strong, which in 

 case of nuclei and weak colonies necessitates uniting. 



As soon as the honey season is over see that each colony 

 has thirty pounds of good capped honey on just enough frames 

 to comfortably contain them. I only use eight of the Gallup 

 frames. Confine them by use of division boards. Cover above 

 and at ends with thick, warm sacks of dry sawdust on chaff. 

 I would preclude pollen as much as possible, and would cut a 

 small hole through the center of each comb, so that the bees can 

 pass from one comb to another without passing around. Close 

 the entrance so that it is not more than an inch long, when if 

 in chaff hives they are ready for winter. If to be put into the 

 cellar leave them till just before cold weather comes, and then 

 carefully remove to winter quarters. When in the cellar I re- 

 move the cover to the hive, but not the sawdust sack, and open 

 the entrance wide. The cellar should be dark, for if not, and 

 the bees become a little too warm, they will be attracted to the 

 light and never again reach their hives. Most persons say that 

 the cellar should be entirely dry. True, the atmosphere should 

 be dry and sweet, but a stream of water passing through a cel- 

 lar, or a cistern full of water is an advantage, as the latent 

 heat in the water helps to preserve the uniformity of temper- 



