50 FlffTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



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 — 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, ventilation 

 continues. 



Suppose, now, that the air in the cellar stands at 45 or 50 

 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 breathing of the bees, and, no matter 

 what the ventilation of the hives, it can do little good so long 

 as thei-e 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 becom- 

 ing so great that soon after being put on their stands whole 

 colonies will swarm. If the cellar has been open all night, they 

 will find little change of ah" on being carried out, and so will 

 not fly out of the hives for the sake of getting air, but only to 

 take their cleansing flight. 



Of course, there is an understanding with the women-folks 

 about the time the bees are taken out, lest they spot the clothes 

 on the line on a wash-day; but the bees have the right of way, 

 and if there is a clash, the wash-day must be postponed. 



SIZE OF ENTRANCE. 



While the bees were in the cellar they had an entrance 121/8 

 X 2 inches, and during the cool days of spring, after they are 

 taken out of the cellar, it is no longer desirable to have so large 

 an entrance. So, as soon as the bees ai-e on their stands, the 

 entrance is closed- down to a vei-y small one by means of an 

 entrance-block. Before describing this I must tell you about 

 the hive and the bottom-board. 



CLEATS FOB HIVE.S. 



The hive is the ordinary 8-frame dovetailed, only I insist 

 upon having on each enda plain cleat isyg x ly^ x y§. There 



