The Care of Bees in Winter 



353 



Cellar wintering. 



It is much more difficult to give definite advice to the 

 beekeeper who wishes to winter his colonies in a cellar, 

 although there is theoretically every reason to consider 

 this the better method. If good food is given the colony 

 (and this is more important in the cellar than outdoors in 

 most climates) and if the cellar temperature and ventila- 

 tion are controlled properly, excellent results may be ob- 

 tained and a considerable saving made in the stores consumed, 

 although the saving of stores is a minor consideration. The 

 optimum cellar temperature, as stated above, is usually 

 believed to be between 40° and 45° F. It has been shown 

 that at such a cellar temperature the production of heat 

 is constantly necessary during the winter and this may be 

 reduced by raising the cellar temperature. Great care must, 

 however, be exercised that the bees do not become excited 

 and crawl out of the hives. In general a cellar temperature 

 of 50° F. or higher 

 results in a saving 

 of the vitality of 

 the bees. Suffi- 

 cient ventilation 

 should be pro- 

 vided to prevent 

 condensation of 

 water, which will, 

 however, be rare 

 at the higher cel- 

 lar temperature. 

 Light should be 

 excluded and the 

 colonies should be 

 absolutely undisturbed from the time they are put in place 

 until they are removed. Most beekeepers use the cellars 

 xmder their residences, but special cellars are often constructed 

 under the honey-house or in the apiary (Fig. 143). Since low 

 temperatures are to be avoided it is usually preferable to use a 

 2a 



Fig. 143. — Roof of a bee cellar away from a house. 



