ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD CELLAR 255 
as a combination of dampness and a cold cellar result fatally 
for the bees; 50° is probably better than either. 
Ventilation also seems to be essential, especially to rid the 
cellar of the surplus moisture. Good results are frequently re- 
ported from cellars closed up tight if the walls are porous and 
permit the escape of moisture readily. In general an even tem- 
perature and a dry cellar are supposed to be best. It is quite 
possible that it will eventually be demonstrated that a tempera- 
ture somewhat above the regulation 45° is better if other con- 
ditions are satisfactory. At present without a basis on which to 
state positively we can accept the conditions generally agreed 
upon as best. (See Figs. 118 and 119.) 
In this connection we can do no better than to describe a 
cellar which gives uniformly good results and in which the 
owner has never lost a colony that went into winter quarters 
in normal condition. The cellar is that used by Mr. Snyder, 
of the Iowa Bee-keeper’s Association, who describes it as 
follows: 
The cellar was constructed especially for the purpose and is under the 
shop and honey house and large enough to accommodate 200 colonies as 
he stores them. 
First a stone wall about sixteen inches through was built. This wall 
was lined with hollow tile on which a coat of common plaster was applied. 
The cellar is ventilated by a chimney built from the ground and with an 
opening at the bottom and also at the ceiling. The chimney extends 
through the ceiling to the usual height above the roof. In addition to the 
chimney ventilator which is in the center of one end of the cellar, there 
are two three-inch ventilators in the corners at the opposite end. This 
supplies sufficient ventilation for cold weather. In mild weather the door 
of the bee cellar is left open. This opens into another cellar room used for 
storage purposes, all being kept in total darkness. 
The bottom of the cellar is tile drained, the tile having outlet in the 
creek about a quarter of a mile distant. However, there is no direct outlet 
from the cellar, the tile being laid about three inches below the surface. 
The ceiling is constructed of cight-inch joist covered with tar building 
paper and overlaid with patent metal lath on which a coat of plaster is 
applied. Overhead of course there is the floor of the workshop. 
Most beekeepers favor brick walls as they are dryer than 
cement or stone as a rule. If too many colonies are placed in 
a cellar for the size of the space available, there is a tendency 
