WINTBBING BEES 31 



then it is very important to let in large quantities of fresh 

 air by opening the cellar-windows at night, or through sub- 

 earth ventilators, as used by some. But if windows are 

 opened they must be closed before daylight in order to shut 

 out light. Some have found it better to let fresh air into 

 an outer cellar and from there into the inner cellar where 

 the bees are. It has been argued that air directly from out- 

 doors has a tendency to stir up the bees; yet we have not 

 found it so. Our experience is that, when bees are uneasy 

 by being too warm, it is also because the air is foul. The 

 obvious remedy is to let in cool air from the outside to 

 reduce the temperature, and at the same time supply fresh 

 oxygen. 



Cellars should be large in proportion to the number of bees 

 kept in them. A room 12 by 12, and 7 feet deep, will winter 

 50 colonies much better than it will 100. Ten colonies will 

 come through in better condition than 50. The reason of 

 this is simply a question of pure air. In some cases one 

 may have access to a larger cellar that opens up into other 

 compartments. If these compartments are not used, leave 

 the doors open so that the . air of the entire cellar can be 

 available for the bees. A bee-cellar only 10 by 10-, 7 feet 

 deep, should not be used to winter more than 100 colonies, 

 and will give better results with 50. A larger number may, 

 of course, be crowded in, and will winter properly if enough 

 ventilation can be given both day and night, keeping the 

 temperature down to about 45. 



SUB-EARTH VENTILATORS. 



The sub-ventilator should be from four to six inches in 

 diameter, made of glazed tile, about 100 feet long, and from 

 four to six feet below the surface of the ground. The outer 

 end is brought to the surface of the ground, and the inner 

 opens near the bottom of the cellar. Cold air entering the 

 ventilator is warmed in pa.ssing under ground and until it 

 enters the cellar, not only supplies the latter with pure air, 

 but at the same time raises its temperature several degrees. 



