THOUSAND ANSWERS 261 



any change when the temperature runs up to 90 degrees, nor 

 when it runs down on cold nights. 



Q. Do you use ventilation under supers, or open at the top 

 through the summer? 



A. Generally, with section-supers, I have ventilation at the 

 back end, between the hive and lower super, and sometimes in 

 the cover of the hive as well. In a cool time, however, it is bet- 

 ter to have the ventilation closed, for sections at that part are 

 not finished so soon. 



Q. In your text-book you give a plan of ventilating the upper 

 stories by shoving them forward and back, leaving a space at one 

 end. Does the rain not get in through the space? 



A. I suppose it does, but it never seems to do any harm, being 

 at the end. At any rate, the harm is overbalanced by the good. 



Q. How is the best way to ventilate hives in winter? 



A. In the cellar it matters little how, provided there be enough 

 ventilation and there is no danger of having too much. For- 

 merly, with box-hives, a good plan was to turn the hive upside 

 down, with no covering over it. That left it all open above and all 

 closed below. Of course, no sort of hive ventilation will avail 

 if the air in the cellar is impure. For outdoor wintering, the en- 

 trance may be three-eighths by six inches for a strong colony, 

 and less for a weak one; besides this opening at the entrance, 

 some cover with some sort of packing that allows a little air 

 slowly to pass upward. Others leave the cover sealed down as the 

 bees left it in summer and fall. But in this case the top must be 

 warmly covered. 



Q. What do you think of ventilation at the top of a hive in 

 wint'pr? Is it important, and, if so, would it not be proper to 

 cut a 2-inch hole through a quilt and place the cloth cushions 

 filled with cork chips on top of this? I use table oilcloth for 

 quilts in summer and winter. Is there anything better? 



A. There is a decided difference of opinion as to the matter 

 of upward ventilation in winter, some reporting success with 

 sealed covering, others reporting disaster. In either case it is 

 important to have warm covering overhead for outdoor wintering. 

 You are on the safe side not to have all sealed tight, and the plan 

 you propose may work all right. I used oilcloth, same as you, 

 for years, but for many years past have had no covering over 

 brood-frames except the hive cover, and this method I like better. 

 But it must be remembered that I winter in the cellar. 



