and ils Economic Management. 189 



than hold a population you imagined would fill at least 

 half-a-bushel. 



The bee nest at this season is practically its own life 

 preserver, and what heat there is present is only to be 

 found towards the centre of this compact mass of bees. 

 The hive itself acts as a shelter, preserving them from the 

 •direct influence of the cold winds and wet, while the 

 temperature around the walls (inside) of the hive is but 

 little higher than that on the outside. The only change 

 that takes place, and that a highly beneficial one, is when 

 during a spell of sunshine the interior of a thin walled hive 

 rapidly rises in temperature ; the bees quickly responding 

 to this genial warmth, immediately expand their cluster, 

 while many set about bringing the distant honey to be re- 

 stored in the cells adjoining their winter nest. This is 

 done in such a systematic manner that the extreme outer 

 combs are first relieved of their contents, while the whole 

 outer face is cleared before the other, nearer, side is 

 touched. 



It has been declared that the temperature on the inside 

 of the hive walls stands at 80° to 90? during winter. 

 There was never a greater mistake ; as we have already 

 seen it cannot possibly be much higher than the outside 

 air, and such a high temperature is only to be found at 

 the centre of the cluster. Bees not only chill to death, 

 when in small numbers near any wall where the mass of 

 the bees do not cluster, but can not maintain life if 

 separated by only a single comb from the actual bee nest. 

 A high temperature can only be registered after the bees 

 have been disturbed, or by withdrawing a previously 

 arranged thermometer from the heart of the cluster. 



Disturbing Influences. 



The act of breeding which re-commences in normal 



