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 all 

 the varying circumstances to v^hieh they are exposed in our 

 uncertain climate, whose severe extremes of temperature 

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



"Utraque vis pariter apibus metuenda. " 

 "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 supervision as a hot-bed or green-house. 



333. With 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, afcove the brood-chamber, or between the differ- 

 ent surplus apartments, if necessary, we improve upon the 

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

 adopt, 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 necessary. 



It has been held that an upper 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 very 

 great help towards this result. 



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

 cease to cluster on the outside, as long as there will be 

 honey to gather, and room to store it in. 



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

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

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



Wliile 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- 



