I J FIFTY YEAES AMONG THE BEES 



lighter than cold air. Su when the air outside the cellar is 

 colder and heavier than that inside, it forces itself in and crowds 

 up the warm air, precisely in the same way — although not with 

 'A\e some deforce of force — that water would pdur into the cellar 

 if a body of water surrounded ihe cellar. If the water were 

 lighter than the air, no water would tiow into the cellar. So 

 long as tlin outside air is colder than the inside, ventilation 

 continues. 



Suppose, now, that the air in the cellar stands at 45 or .lO 

 degrees, and that the outside air becomes warmed up to the 

 same temperature. There will be an equilibrium in weight, and 

 there will be no ventilation. The air in the cellar is all the time 

 becoming vitiated by the breathing of the bees, and, no matter 

 wliat the ventilation of the hives, it can do little good so long 

 as there is no pure air in the cellar. The bees become frantic 

 in their desire for fresh air, and if carried out while in this 

 condition they will rush out of the hive, the excitement becom- 

 ing so great that soon after being put on their stands whole 

 colonies will swarm. If the cellar has been open all night, they 

 will find little change of air on being carried out, and so will 

 not fly out of the hives for the sake of yetting air, but only to 

 take their cleansing flight. 



Of course, there is an understanding with the women-folks 

 about the time the bees are taken out, lest they spot the clothes 

 on the line on a wasli-day; liut the bees have the right of "ay, 

 and if there is a clash, the wash-day must be postponed. 



SIZE fJF EXTIi.WnE. 



While the bees were in the cellar, they had an entrance 127,s 

 X 2 inches, and during the cool days of spring, after thev are 

 taken out of the cellar, it is no longer desirable to have so large 

 an entrance. So as soon as the bees are on their stands, the 

 entrance is closed down to a very small one by means of an en- 

 trance-block. Before describing this I must tell you about the 

 hi^e and bottom-board. 



CLEATS FOR HI\'KS. 



The hive is the ordinary 8-frame dovetailed, oidy J insist 

 r.pon having on each end a plain cleat l^i/g .x IVo x ■;<^. There 



