14 



The bees should be carried into the cellar just at freezing-up time, preferably 

 the next day after they have had a good cleansing flight. In Southern Ontario 

 this would be the latter part of November and earlier in the more northern latitude. 

 It is only injurious to bees to leave them on their summer stands during freezing 

 weather in the fall, when they are to be placed in a cellar. On the other hand, if 

 warm weather occurs after the bees have been carried into the cellar, it is often 

 difficult to keep them quiet. In fact the uncertainty of weather for setting in in 

 the fall and for carrying out in the spring is one of the chief objections to cellar 

 wintering, if one adds to that the fact that the cellar requires a certain amount 

 of attention in the way of regulating ventilators all winter. Then, when the hives 

 are removed from the cellar in the spring they have to pass through inclement 

 weather without the protection they should have, for they require about the same 

 labor and expense for packing up as they would have required in the fall if wintered 

 on their summer stands. 



Row of quadruple cases with entrance doors open as in warm weather of spring or fall. 

 These doors close %-lnch short of ends of openings leaving winter entrances 

 %-inch wide hy 1% inches high. 



Setting Bees Out of Cellae. 



Setting bees out of the cellar in spring seems like a small matter ; but a mis- 

 take made at this time often brings disastrous results. The date, the day and the 

 weather are all subjects for careful choice. There are certain principles connected 

 with the behavior of bees which must be considered in setting them out of the 

 cellar. These may be enumerated before discussing the time and manner of the 

 operation. 



Under the most favorable conditions, bees in winter remain quietly clustered 

 on their combs, consuming very little food and rearing no brood. Unfavorable 

 conditions of temperature, humidity, etc., also improper food, cause uneasiness 

 indicated by a buzzing or humming sound in the cellar, brown stains of dysentery 



