120G 



, GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Sept. 15 



yet the temperature would not change even 

 one degree. 



Please understand that we do not claim 

 the old policy of a closed cellar with a uni- 

 fonn temperature is wrong, because com- 

 paratively good results in wintering have 

 been secured; but we are raising the ques- 

 tion whether or not much better results 

 might not accrue with a uniform tempera- 

 ture and plenty of pure air, providing both 

 conditions can be supplied. Experience in 

 our own cellar, at least, has shown that ven- 

 tilation, and lots of it, is a necessity. Now, 

 we apprehend that, if Dr. Miller were to 

 have kept his cellar closed after he put in 

 the furnace, he would have had severe loss- 

 es. A high temperature and bad air are 

 both decidedly detrimental. No one will 

 dispute that proposition. The only point at 

 issue is whether a temperature of 45, and 

 closed cellar, affords as good a condition for 

 wintering as a temperature of 45 to 50° with 



with practically no ventilation of the cellar 

 itself, do we not compel those bees to con- 

 sume heavily of their stores, thus bringing 

 on dysentery? for overfeeding is likely to 

 cause bowel trouble. 



If we in any thing that has been said thus 

 far have made a positive statement we beg 

 leave to withdraw it. We simply desire to 

 throw out a few interrogations around some 

 old orthodoxies on cellar wintering. — Ed.] 



A YOUTHFUL INVESTIGATOR. 



BY FRANK VTANSTALL. 



lOKNKST WANSTALL WATCHING BEES TAKE 

 EARLY SPRING. 



plenty of pure air. In the case of the latter 

 the hive should have narrow entrances, about 

 the same as they had in summer, so that the 

 animal heat will not be dissipated. 



Experiments were conducted last winter, 

 showing that a colony of bees in an observa- 

 toi'y hive was wintered in a living-room 

 while the temperature was 72 and over, and 

 it wintered perfectly. But this colony had 

 an outdoor entrance. Strange to relate, the 

 bees did not tly out at any time except when 

 it was suitable for theru to fly. But a re- 

 port of this will be given later. 



But the point right here is this: These 

 bees were not compelled to waste their ani- 

 mal heat in keeping up the internal temper- 

 ature of their hive. They had plenty of 

 fresh air. Now, then, if we give our bees 

 too much bottom ventilation in the hives, 

 and then put them in a temperature of 45°| 



The accompanying picture shows five-year- 

 old Ernest Harry Wanstall, who is doing a 

 little investigating on his own account. Er- 

 nest wants to know where the bees put all 

 the honey which they carry into the hive, as 

 he knows from experience that there is a 

 good deal to take out 

 sometimes (when he 

 turns the "stractor"). 

 So he has the magnify- 

 ing-glass to see how it 

 is done, as they are be- 

 ing fed some honey dur- 

 ing a warm day in 

 spring. Ernest is not 

 at all afraid of them, 

 but he has learned that 

 there are times when it 

 is wise not to go too 

 near, especially during 

 the late fall, when there 

 is no honey to be got, 

 unless he has one of 

 papa's veils on. 

 White Plains, N. Y. 



[We desire to com- 

 mend most heartily our 

 young investigator; but 

 may we suggest that 

 this plan of feeding is, 

 a good many times, 

 fraught with danger, 

 not only to the other 

 bees in the yard but 

 to the apiarist? If there is no colony within 

 half a mile one can pursue his investiga- 

 tions without any trouble. We will assume, 

 however, in the absence of any statement, 

 that the experiment here illustrated was con- 

 ducted when there was a good flow of hon- 

 ey, and, consequently, not much disposition 

 to rob. — Ed]. 



ROBBING; GLASS PLAN A SUCCESS. 



I have tried Mr. Long's plan for prevent- 

 ing robbing, as described on page 1188 of 

 Sept. 15th issue, 1906. It is a complete suc- 

 cess—so much so that I consider it worth five 

 years' subscription to Gleanings. It is fun 

 to see the robbers get caught, and so con- 

 fused that they are glad to get away alive. 



Bracebridge, Ont., Can. John Bailey. 



I 



UP HONEY FED IN 



