74 THE beekeepers' DIRECTORY. 



imperceptible movement. The reduction of temperature is about 

 , 20°, enough to justify those who are claiming true hibernation for 

 bees that they are indulging in no gibberish. It is a state, how- 

 ever, requiring food at intervals of from three to five days. I 

 only know that they have regular feeding times when the whole 

 colony becomes active and each bee seems to help itself to 

 honey. When all have feasted they settle into the torpid state 

 again. 



A colony of bees properly hibernating will consume not more 

 than one pound of honey per month and this state continues if 

 all goes right, from the first of November to the first of Febru- 

 ary, when breeding commences. More heat is then required 

 and the bees are no longer in a perfectly listless state. The patch 

 of brood started will be, however, quite small, usually not over 

 four inches in diameter, so that no gfeat increase of temperature 

 is required. They start no more unless they have frequent 

 flights, until in March when extensive breeding begins and hi- 

 bernation ceases altogether. / 



Hibernation is secured only at alow temperature. It commences 

 at a point below 50° and becomes more profound until we reach 

 41°. Going below that it gradually becomes less until below 32°. 

 Going below this point the bees become active and the labors, 

 destructive to their vitality and life, begin. Severe cold and cur- 

 rents of air interrupt hibernation and should be provided against 

 in order to the most successful wintering. Before bees are placed 

 in cellars, the cellars should be cooled to 41° by opening hatch- 

 ways or ventilators at night, and the temperature should be kept 

 down by the same means if inclined to rise. If the temperature 

 goes below 41°, I would advise raising it by the use of an anthra- 

 cite coal stove and keep it as near 41° as possible till the first, of 

 February. Then raise the temperature to 48° and keep it there 

 until the bees are set out. Two very serious mistakes are ofteii 

 made in placing bees in cellars : the first is in having the cellar 

 too warm ; and the second is in allowing currents of fresh air to 

 enter through sub-earth pipes. Bbth of these conditions prevent 

 hibernation and tend to restlessness. 



In hives protected with chaff, sawdust, etc., we get a near ap- 

 proach to the condition secured in a single-walled hive in a 

 repository ; and, if the protection is^ sufficient, bees will'winter 

 out-of-doors as well as in. But it is plain, if we are to secure uni- 

 form temperature, we must winter in special depositories. My 



