CONSTRUCTIVE BEEKEEPING 29 



air condenses on the inner surface of the car, making the air 

 drier, consequently preventing the absorbtion of water from the 

 air by the products stored in the car. 



SHADE' 



Shade in the afternoon has been observed to have a tendency 

 to prevent swarming. There can be no condensation if the tem- 

 perature of the hive walls is nearly equal to or higher than the 

 hive air. This is the condition that exists most of the day and 

 evening when the weather is warm and the sun is shining; pro- 

 viding the hives are not shaded. When a hive is so situated that- 

 the shade covers it about noon or soon thereafter, the conditions 

 for condensation are good, cool walls. 



Bees situated in dense shade have been observed to swarm 

 more than those having more open surroundings. In dense shade 

 the humidity is high and no movement of air takes place. The 

 hive may be well ventilated as the beekeeper has had best results 

 from well ventilated hives ; but the air, being almost saturated 

 when it enters the hive, does not carry off the water vapor from 

 the hive. The good ventilation keeps the inside and outside 

 walls of the hive at nearly the same temperature and if the hives 

 are not well lined with propolis, not much condensation takes 

 place. With nectar not ripening into honey, they soon feel their 

 crowded condition. 



CLUSTERING OUT 



When the bees are clustering out, it is not the heat of the 

 hive that bothers them, but the high dewpoint in the hive. Man 

 can stand a temperature in dry air much above 100 degrees 

 without much discomforture, but let the air become so saturated 

 with moisture that the dewpoint approaches the temperature of 

 his body, then he feels more or less sufficating effects. We have 

 all noticed this condition of atmosphere on a day that we call 

 close and stuffy. The bees that are clustering out have this close 

 stuffy air in the hive and cluster out for relief. 



Cover the outside of the hive with a wet cloth and soon the 



