44 lORTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. 



(ioned, the cellar is left wide open all nig-ht the night 

 before the bees are carried out, and it is possible that 

 just in that little thing- lies the secret of the difference. 

 When the weather begins to warm up in the spring, 

 before it is time to carry out the bees, it often happens 

 that there comes a warm day when the outside tempera- 

 ture runs up to 50 degrees or more, and possibly this 

 may continue more than a day. Such times are hard on 

 the ventilation of the cellar. 



TEMPERATURE AND VENTILATION. 



Please remember that the ventilation of the cellar 

 depends on the difference of the weight of the air in 

 the cellar and the weight of the outside air. Also 

 remember that the difference in weight depends on the 

 difference in temperature. Warm air is lighter than cold 

 air. So when the air outside the cellar is colder and 

 heavier than that inside, it forces itself in and crowds up 

 the warm air, precisely in the same way — although not 

 with the same degree of force — precisely in the same 

 way that water would pour into the cellar if a body of 

 water surrounded the cellar. If the water were lighter 

 than the air, no water would flow into the cellar. So 

 long as the outside air is colder than the inside, ventila- 

 tion continues. 



Suppose, now, that the air in the cellar stands at 45 

 or so degrees, and that the outside air becomes warmed 

 up to the same temperature. There will be an equilibrium 

 in weight, and there will be no ventilation. The air in 

 the cellar is all the time becoming vitiated by the breath- 

 ing of the bees, and no matter what the ventilation of 

 the hives, it can do little good so long as there is no pure 

 air in the cellar. The bees become frantic in their desire 

 for fresh air, and if carried out while in this condition 

 they will rush out of the hive, the excitement becoming 

 so great that soon after being put on their stands whole 



