FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 291 



there are some years in which there will be no chance for bees 

 to have a flight after the middle of November till the next 

 spring, and I think there was one year without a flight-day 

 after the first of November. One feels bad to put his bees 

 into the cellar the first week in November, and then two or 

 three weeks later have a beautiful day for a flight. But he 

 feels a good deal worse after a good flight-day the first week 

 in November to wait for a later flight, then have it turn very 

 cold, and after waiting through two or three weeks of such 

 weather to give up hope of any later flight and put in his 

 bees after two or three weeks' endurance of severe freezing 

 weather. So it is better to err on the side of getting bees in 

 too early. 



Theoretically, the right time to cellar bees is the next day 

 after they have had their last flight for the season, and one 

 must do the best he can to judge after any flight-day whether 

 it is the last or not. More than one reason can be given for 

 taking in next day after a flight. The hives are dry ; there are 

 no accumulations of frost or ice inside; and the bees are un- 

 usually quiet. An the better if the next morning is cool as it 

 is likely to be. Sometimes, however, one cannot have every- 

 thing as he wants it, and I httve: befen .caught taking in bees in 

 a snow-storm. Better ,take them in during the- storm than af- 

 ter it is all over and constantly growing colder. But it seems 

 to do no harm for them to be taken in covered with snow. 



PBEPARING THE CELLAR. 



For twenty-four hours before taking in — ^perhaps for sev- 

 eral days — doors and windows of the cellar are kept wide 

 open, so as to air it out thoroughly, and perhaps the walls are 

 whitewashed and the floor limed, although this is generally 

 done after taking out in the spring. Strips of board are placed 

 on the ground so that the bottom hive has its bottom-board 

 an inch or two above the ground at the front end, and an inch 

 more at the back end. 



OARRTING IN HIVES. 



Hives are carried in just as they are, because before the 

 time for hauling bees home all false bottoms were removed, 

 and the bottom-boards fastened to the hives where necessary. 



