WINTERING BEES 47 



not be used, ordinarily, for the resulting bad air will be 

 worse for the bees than the cold. 



With a properly constructed bee-cellar, there should be no 

 need of artificial heat; but, nevertheless, it is best to have 

 the cellar so arranged that a stove can be used if necessary. 



The illustration given here at the bottom, shows "^r. C. A. 

 Hatch's plan for a bee-cellar. It will be seen that the bee- 

 room is almost entirely under the ground. The space be- 

 tween the ceiling and the roof is filled with leaves. 



Mr. Hatch thinks it is advisg,ble to have a cellar near the 

 apiary, and built in a side hill if possible. If the entrance 

 is on the level it is very easy to wheel colonies in and out. 

 He believes that a cellar 12 by 16 feet, inside measure, would 

 be ample for 100 colonies in ten-frame hives, or for 120 

 ' colonies in eight-fratae hives. 



An important point connected with the Hatch bee-cellar 

 is the double entrance, or vestibule. In this way the temper- 

 ature can be regulated very easily. A temperature of 45 

 degrees Fahrenheit is considered ideal, but it is probable 

 that a rise or drop of five degrees does no great harm unless 

 continued more than 24 hours. Mr. Hatch agrees with Mr. 

 Fraiiee in ttiihking thai tte tliree essentials for safe winter- 

 ing are good feed, proper temperature, aiid young bees. 



holteemann's bbe-cellae. 



One of the largest bee-Cellars, as well as one of the best 

 designed, is' owned by Mr. R. F. Holtermann, of Brantford, 

 Ont.,'. Canada, an extensive beekeeper of that province. The 

 cellar is made wholly of concrete, and, what is of particular 

 interest to beekeepers, has. a scheme of ventilation that is 

 almost ideal. It is not only theoretically perfect, but prac- 

 tically gives results in wintering that can scarcely be sur- 

 passed. 



The authors h^fve seen this cellar, and, notwithstanding 

 there were about 500 powerful colonies in it at the time, 

 there was perfect quiet and apparently perfect wintering. 

 The temperature was about 43, and the air was pure and 



