270 DR. miller's 



will have some trouble, for field mice will have entered some of 

 the hives before being brought into the cellar. It is better, how- 

 ever, to have a mouse confine its loving attention to one colony 

 than to give it the free run of all. 



Q. Do you recommend sealed covers for cellar-wintering, the 

 cellar being damp? 



A. I put my bees in the cellar with covers sealed down; but 

 they have entrances full width two inches deep. With very small 

 entrances there should be upward ventilation. 



Q. Do bees always keep on humming in the hives all winter 

 when in the cellar,, in which the temperature is 45 degrees? If 

 not, please tell me the cause. 



A. I believe some say their bees are found entirely quiet, but 

 I think mine never are. A humming, more or less pronounced, 

 may always be heard. They seem to go somewhat in waves, oc- 

 casionally stirring up so as to make quite a little noise, but almost 

 entirely quiet during the rest of the time. These periods of occa- 

 sional waking up differ in different hives, so that when one stands 

 to listen at the door of the bee-room there is a constant, gentle 

 murmur, which I confess I rather enjoy hearing. 



Q. There is a continual hum in the hives, sometimes sufficient 

 to be heard across the cellar. Is this too much noise to call it 

 good behavior and, if so, what is the cause and remedy? Tem- 

 perature of cellar is 35 degrees. 



A. Less noise would probably be better; but as cold as 35 de- 

 grees they will make a good deal of noise to keep themselves 

 warm. Can't you warm up the cellar in some way? Hot stones 

 or jugs of hot water tightly corked might do. Even if occasion- 

 ally to 45 degrees or more, it would help. 



Q. \\'hat difficulties may be expected from keeping bees in a 

 damp cellar? How can these difficulties be overcome while the 

 bees are in such a cellar? 



A. Diarrhea is likely to result if the temperature is not suf- 

 ficiently high. Bees have been reported as wintering in the best 

 condition in a very wet cellar when the cellar was kept warm 

 enough and supplied well with fresh air. Obviously the thing 

 to do is to raise the temperature sufficiently, and to see that 

 tliere is a sufficient change of air. 



Q. \\'hat do you think of shutting l)ecs in the cellar with 

 wire-screen? I use a frame with wire-screen on both sides. I 

 close up the entrance with two small nails and a strip of wood. 

 I use another strip to hold all tog-ether, instead of staples. 



