OR, MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 463 



as the experience of many has fully proved, is a help. It is 

 still better if the vertical shaft or pipe connect with a stove 

 above which is much used in winter. This creates a draft, 

 and as the air is brougpht underground through the long sub- 

 earth pipe, the air is warmed. The pipe should connect with 

 the stove-pipe above at quite a height above the stove, or the 

 stove may smoke. I found at the Michigan Agricultural Col- 

 lege that we got quite a draft, especially on windy days, even 

 if there was no fire, but the vertical pipe — a common stove-pipe 

 served excellently well — connects simply with a chimney 

 which projects above the house. Such an arrangement not 

 only controls the temperature but ventilates the cellar. A 

 large cistern full of water, or water running through a cellar 

 deep under ground, is a wonderful moderator, and will surely 

 keep the temperature at the proper point. It is imperative that 

 every bee-keeper have a thermometer in his cellar, and by 

 frequent examination know that the temperature is at the 

 proper point. Unless he finds that he can not control the tem- 

 perature without, he would better not go to the expense of 

 either sub-earth ventilation or a cistern. 



Dr. C. C. Miller keeps a small coal-stove burning with an 

 open stove-door in each cellar, and thus keeps the temperature 

 just as he desires. My. brother keeps as many bees in his 

 house-cellar with no such pains or labor, and yet is as success- 

 ful as is Dr. Miller. The thing to remember is, we must con- 

 trol the temperature. 



I commence preparation for winter as soon as the first 

 frost shows that the harvest is over. I then put five I^ang- 

 stroth or seven Gallup frames at one side or end of the hive, 

 where they are to remain for the winter. If these have not 

 enough food I feed till they have. If other frames have brood 

 I put these close beside, and remove them as soon as the brood 

 has all matured, and close up the other frames by use of a 

 division-board. I now cover all with a cloth and with a super 

 of chaff or dry sawdust. For the past two years I have left all 

 the combs in very strong colonies, and covered simply with a 

 board, and these colonies have done well. In a good cellar 

 bees need no packing about or above the brood-chamber. 



Before cold weather — any time from the first to the middle 



