ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 183 



YEARS ago, "sub-earth" ventilation of bee cellars was almost 

 universally recommended. Nearly every one who built a 

 bee cellar, also buried 200 or 300 feet of drain-tile; the outer 

 end connecting with the open air, and the inner end enter- 

 ing the cellar. To remove the 2\r from the cellar, a pipe, connecting 

 with a stove pipe in the room above, extended down through the floor 

 to within a few inches of the cellar bottom. The draft of the stove 

 pipe "pulled up" the air from the cellar, and more flowed in through 

 the sub-earth pipe to take its place. In passing through the sub- 

 earth pipe, the air was warmed. If there was no stove pipe with 

 which to connect the outlet pipe, it was extended upwards until it 

 reached the open air. The air in the cellar, being warmer than the 

 outside air, flowed out of the upper ventilator, and more air flowed in 

 through the sub-earth tube. 



In order to keep the temperature even, there was much opening 

 and closing of the ventilating tubes. In very severe weather, it was 

 often necessary to leave the openings closed several days, or even 

 weeks. At such times it was noticed that the bees suffered no in- 

 convenience. Not only this, but it wa^ often noticed that when the 

 ventilators were opened, the in-rush of fresh, cool air aroused the 

 bees and made them uneasy. Finally, the ventilators were opened 

 less and less, and, at last, they were left closed all of the time. 



The amount of air needed by bees varies greatly according to 

 circumstances. When they are excited and full of honey, as is the 

 case with a swarm, the amount of air needed is very great. If they 

 can be kept quiet, a very little air will suf&ce. In winter the bees 

 are in a semi-dormant state, one closely bordering on hibernation. 



