SEPTEMBER 1, 1^14 



679 



building-. Two doors eonneofed each of the 

 two compartments with this entryway. While 

 the building' was proAdded with windows, 

 these were closed with wooden panels so as 

 to make the two bee-rooms absolutely dark. 

 The following is the ground plan of the 

 building, which was produced at the time, 

 and from this point we reproduce the fur- 

 ther description Avith the interview we had 

 with Mr. Boardman in 188fl. 



GROUNtl PTiAN OF BUII-DING. 



I 1 r- 



! B 



I) 



A is the entryway ; B B the compartments ; C the 

 doorway to the entry ; and D D, etc., are doors to 

 tlie compartments B B from each end of the building. 

 W, W, W, etc., are windows, hinged in the middle in 

 such a way that the window can be revolved to a 

 horizontal plane, so as to allow the bees to escape. 



As we approached the structure, I said, " I notice 

 that the door is open." 



" It has been such an open winter that I have 

 been obliged to lower the temperature by letting in 

 the outside air. Besides there are more colonies in 

 the repository than I should prefer to have for such 

 an open winter a« the present one." 



" How many colonies have you in there now? " 



" I have 70 in one compartment and 100 in the 

 other. In continuous cold weather the 100 wouJd 

 have been about right. But I find that from 75 to 

 80 colonies in each compartment average best, all 

 things considered. During the past winter the com- 

 partment having the 70 did better than the one 

 having the 100. During a severe winter the results 

 might have been reversed." 



" I suppose it will not be possible to get a photo- 

 graphic view inside : that is, it will not be advisable 

 to let in sufficient light to enable me to take a pic- 

 ture." 



"Oh, yes! I think there will be no trouble;" and 

 so saying he opened the end door at D ; and not only 

 that, he opened the three windows so that it was as 

 light as an ordinary room. 



" But, aren't you afraid that this light is going to 

 disturb your bees? " 



" For the length of time you require, it will do no 

 harm." 



Stationing myself at the end door D, I poised the 

 camera and took the view shown below. 



As Mr. Boardman has already explained in one of 

 his articles, the bottom-boards are left on their per- 

 manent stands, and the hives, as you will notice by 

 the engraving, are piled up in such a way that the 

 bottom of one hive comes directly over the opening 

 between the two below it. Instead of giving full- 

 width entrance, as most beekeepers do who winter 

 in repositories, he gives them the benefit of a large 

 portion of the bottom of the hive. To the stronger 

 colonies he gives more bottom space; to the weaker 

 he gives less. On the average there is an opening 

 at the bottom of each hive, 4 inches wide, and the 

 full length or width of the hive. He does not then 

 give them the full bottom, as I had formerly sup- 

 posed, and as perhaps some of the rest of the readers 

 likewise understood. 



You will notice that friend Boardman dispenses 

 with all stringers, shelving, or any other support to 

 hold the colonies in the repository. They are simply 

 piled up about 4 inches apart, one upon the other, 

 lirpak-joint fashion. 



" Now, then, friend Boardman, Mr. Newman said 

 he did not see how you could curry hives about with- 



out bottom-boards, and yet not have the bees drojj- 

 ping out and flying out to make the job any thing 

 but pleasant ; and, what is more, I do not see how 

 you do it myself." 



" Why, easy enough," said my friend. Going to 

 one of the hives (they are cleated clear around at 

 the top, you will notice, the cover resting telescopic 

 fa.shion on this cleat) he grasped its diagonally oppo- 

 site corners. Leaning backward a little he let the 

 edge of the hive bear against his person, carried the 

 hive to the other end of the repository, set it down, 

 took it up, and put it back. He did likewise with a 

 number of other colonies. Each one he held up, 

 turning it up so that I could see for myself the con- 

 dition of the bees, and how they apparently regarded 

 such kind of handling. AVhile it looked real easy I 

 could not be content until I tried it too. 



" To prevent the bees flying out when about to 

 remove them to their winter quarters, I am partic- 

 ular," he said, " not to jar the hive unnecessarily, 

 and then I prefer to have the weather just cool 

 enough at the time so that the bees cluster a little 

 closer than usual. 



" You see," he continued, " I letter each row m 

 the apiary, and number each individual stand. Now, 

 Avhen I get ready to carry the bees out I take the 

 first hive I come to, which, in this case, proves uo 

 be F 18. Of course I know where the row F is; 



An inside view of Boardman's winter repository, 

 showing front row of hives. 



and 18 I know to be somewhere about the middle of 

 the row; and with the hive in this fashion" (holding 

 it in the manner before explained), "I take a bee- 

 line to the bottom-board having the same marking as 

 the hive." 



"But," I said, "do you think it makes any great 

 difiference as to where the colonies are put? " 



"Not much, but it does some; and if I can de- 

 posit each colony where it was last fall, just as easily 

 as not, I very much prefer to do so rather than to 

 set them out haphazard. There is then no confusion 

 among the bees when they take their first flight; for 

 some old bees will be sure to know where their old 

 stand used to be." 



" I want to know what sort of a cover you put 

 over the frames in winter." 



" All the bees have is the regular hive-cover, and 

 this they usually glue down tight; that is, I put the 

 bees into the repository just as I find them on their 

 summer stands, after I have satisfied myself as to 

 their strength and amount of stores." 



Now, perhaps some of our readers will begin to 

 wonder whether those bees, during all this time wheii 



