28 



BULLETIN 96, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



hour, when the temperatures began gradually to fall. Finally, when 

 the bees had orientated themselves and had commenced to return to 

 the hive, there was a noticeable quieting and a perceptible drop in 

 the mercury. At 7.30 o'clock, after all the bees had returned to the 

 hive, conditions were practically normal. 



In conclusion it may be said that the conditions under which the 

 bees were moved, although trying and about as adverse as possibly 

 could be encountered, did not produce abnormal heat in the hive. 

 The temperature increased only 2°, from 34° to 36° + C. (93.2 

 to 96.8° F.) . While it is generally admitted that ventilation from the 

 top is preferable in moving bees, on the hypothesis that warm air 

 rises, ventilation from the bottom was a success in the case under dis- 

 cussion. In moving the rest of the department apiary to College 

 Park earlier in the season, when the weather was more favorable, the 

 day being cloudy with showers, three colonies suffered severely from 

 overheating and condensation. These colonies were screened at the 

 entrance and over the top of the hive; but apparently the screening of 

 the top was not sufficient, because when the bees became excited and 

 expanded as a result of the heat, they packed so tightly against the 

 top screen as to shut out all ventilation. The tendency of bees is 

 upward and toward the light. On the contrary, if ventilation is given 

 from below, there is less tendency for them to pack against the screen. 

 While it is generally maintained that for moving colonies top ventila- 

 tion is preferable, the present experiment would indicate that bottom 

 ventilation is practical and advantageous. 



For comparison, figures taken the day previous (Table X) and the 

 day after the transportation (Table XII), as well as on that day 

 (Table XI), are presented. 



Table X. — Readings of thermometers, July 1, on day previous to transportation of bee 



colony. 





Thermometer. 



Hour. 



a. 



b. 



C. 



ft 



e. 



0. 





"C. 



°F. 



"C. °F. 



"C. 



°F. 



°C. 



"F. 



°C. 



°F. 



"C. 



"F. 





33.4 

 33.6 

 33.8 

 33.9 

 34.0 

 34.4 

 34.4 

 34.6 

 34.8 



92.12 

 92.48 

 92.84 

 93.02 

 93.20 

 93. 92 

 93.92 

 94.28 

 94. 64 



34.0 

 34.0 

 34.2 

 34. 5 



93.20 

 93.20 

 93. 56 

 94.10 



34.0 

 34.2 

 34.2 

 34.5 

 34.5 

 34.8 

 34.8 

 34.8 

 35.0 



93.20 

 93. 56 

 93.56 

 94.10 

 94.10 

 94.64 

 94.64 

 94.64 

 95.00 



33.8 

 33.6 

 33.8 

 33.9 

 34.0 

 34.0 

 34.0 

 34.2 

 34.8 



92.84 

 92.48 

 92.84 

 93.02 

 93.20 

 93. 20 

 93.20 

 93.56 

 94.64 



33.8 

 33.6 

 33.6 

 33.9 

 34.0 

 34.0 

 34.0 

 34.2 

 35.0 



92.84 

 92.48 

 92.48 

 93.02 

 93.20 

 93.20 

 93.20 

 93.56 

 95.00 



25.8 

 27.0 

 28.5 

 29.0 

 29.8 

 31.5 

 31.5 

 32.2 

 29.0 



78.44 



10a. m 



80.60 



11 a. m 



12 m 



83.30 

 84.20 



1 p . m 



34.5 

 34.8 



94.10 

 94.64 



85.64 

 88.70 



3 p. m 



34. 8 94. 64 

 34.8 94.64 

 34.8 94.64 



88.70 

 89.96 





84.20 











