282 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



some years in which there will be no chance for bees to have a 

 flight after the middle of November till the next spring, and I 

 think there was one year without a flight-day after the first of 

 November. One feels bad to put his bees into the cellar the 

 first week in November, and then two or three weeks later have 

 a beautiful day for a flight. But he feels a good deal worse 

 after a good flight-day the first week in November to wait for a 

 later flight, then have it turn very cold, and after waiting 

 through two or three weeks of such weather to give up hope of 

 any later flight and put in his bees after two or three weeks' 

 endurance of severe freezing weather. So it is better to err on 

 the side of getting bees in too early. 



Theoretically, the right time to cellar bees is the next day 

 after they have had their last flight for the season, and one must 

 do the best he can to judge after any flight-day whether it is 

 the last or not. More than one reason can be given for taking 

 in next day after a flight. The hives are dry; there are no 

 accumulations of frost or ice inside ; and the bees are unusually 

 quiet. All the better if the next morning is cool, as it is likely 

 to be. Sometimes, however, one cannot have everything as he 

 wants it, and I have been caught taking in bees in a snow-storm. 

 Better take them in during the storm than after it is all over 

 and constantly growing colder. But it seems to do no harm for 

 them to be taken in covered with snow. 



PREPARING THE CELLAR. 



For twcnty-fouv hours before taking in — perhaps for several 

 days — doors and windows of the cellar are kept wide open, so 

 as to air it out thoroughlj', and perhaps the walls are white- 

 washed and the floor limed, although this is generally done after 

 taking out in the spring. Strips of board are placed on the 

 ground so that the bottom hive has its bottom-board an inch or 

 two ahoxc the ground at the front end, and an inch more at the 

 back end. 



CARRYING IN HIVES. 



Hives are carried in just as they are, because before the time 

 for hauling bees home all false bottoms were removed, and the 

 bottom-boards fastened to the hives where necessary. With the 



