■WINTEEING BEES. 395 



will not mold. At the same time enough is diffused 

 throughout the atmosphere of the room, to answer all the 

 requirements of the hees. Twenty years experience has 

 proved this principle correct. 



One hundred colonies in any kind of wooden hives, 

 cannot be wintered more safely and economically, than in 

 a warm room. What I mean by economically, is, with 

 the least consumption of honey. The room should be 

 large enough to conveniently contain the number of 

 hives to be wintered. 



A small one in the dwelling house, or some out-build- 

 ing, or a warm dry cellar may be used. I have wintered 

 them in all these places, and prefer the latter. 



• 



CELLAR PEBFEREED. 



If I were now to construct a room for this particular 

 purpose, and could have just what I wanted, it would not 

 differ materially from one I now use. It is a cellar under 

 a barn on a side hill, where the ground descends just 

 enough to make the entrance level with the floor, size 

 20 X 30, with the hay-mow directly over it. Ten feet from 

 the back end there is a partition, and two feet forward 

 of that, another, enclosing a dead-air space, which will 

 prevent all sudden changes of outside temperature from 

 being felt within. Several days of warm or of very cold 

 weather, will occur, before the difference is noticed by 

 the bees. The walls are simply plastered, but should be 

 laid in lime mortar to keep out rats and mice. The bottom 

 is cemented thoroughly, and the top lathed and plastered. 

 A tube four inches square is put in on one side near the 

 bottom, for the admission of air, and another at the top, 

 for its exit, both covered with wire-cloth to exclude 

 vermin. A slide should be inserted in these tubes to re- 

 gulate the supply of air. 



Around the sides of such a room, arrange shelves at 



