102 THE BEE keeper's MANVAI.. 



To secure this end, the ventilators must not only be inde- 

 pendent of the entrance, but they must owe their efficiency 

 mainly to the co-operation, of the bees themselves, who 

 thus have a free admission of air only when they want it. 

 To depend on the opening and shutting of the ventilators by 

 the bee-keeper, is entirely out of the question. 



27. It should furnish facilities for admitting at once, a 

 large body of air ; so that in winter, or early spring, when 

 the weather is at any time unusually mild, the bees may be 

 tempted to fly out and discharge their faeces. (See Chapter 

 on Protection.) 



If- such a free admission of air cannot be given to hives 

 which are thoroughly protected against the cold, the bees 

 may lose a favorable opportunity of emptying themselves ; 

 aud thus be more ^exposed than they otherwise would, to 

 suffer from diseases resulting from too long confinement 

 A very free admission of air is also desirable when the 

 weather is exceedingly hot. 



28. It should enable the Apiarian to remove the excess 

 of bee-bread from old stocks. 



This article always accumulates in old hives, so that in 

 the course of time, many of the combs are filled with it, thus 

 unfitting them for the rearing of brood, and the reception of 

 honey. Young slocks, on the other hand, will often be so 

 deficient in this important article, that in the early part of 

 the season, breeding will be seriously interfered with. By 

 means of my movable frames, the excess of old colonies 

 may be made to supply the deficiency of young ones, to the 

 mutual benefit of both. (See Chapter on Pollen.) 



29. It should enable the Apiarian, when ho has removed 

 the combs from a common hive, to place them with the bees, 

 brood, honey and bee-bread, in'the improved hive, so that 

 the bees may be able to attach them in their natural posi- 



