WINTERINa BEES. 329i 



of an entire villoge, in a common vault or cellar. Dzierzon^ 

 says, " A dry cellar is very well adapted for wintering, 

 bees, even though it be not wholly secure from frost ; the 

 temperature will still be much milder, and more uniform, 

 than in the open air ; the bees will be more secure from dis- 

 turbance, and will be protected from the piercing cold winds,, 

 which cause more injury than the greatest degree of eoldi 

 when the air is calm." 



The same writer says, " Universal experience teaches that 

 the more effectually bees are protected from disturbance andi 

 from the variations of temperature, the belter will they pass- 

 the Winter, the less will they consume of their stores, andi 

 the more vigorous and numerous will they be in the Spring.. 

 I have therefore constructed special winter quarters for my 

 bees, near my Apiary. This is weather-boarded both out- 

 side and within, and the intervening space is filled with hay 

 or tan, &c. ; the ground plat enclosed, is dug out to the depthi 

 of three or four feet, so as to secure a more moderate and 

 equable temperature. When my hives are placed in this; 

 depositary, and the door locked, the darkness, uniform tem- 

 perature, and entire repose the bees enfoy, enable them to. 

 pass the winter securely and prosperously. I usually place- 

 here my weaker colonies, and those whose hives are not 

 made of the warmest materials, and they always do well." 



It will be obvious that if such a structure is to be partly 

 under ground, a very dry site must be selected for it. 



I shall here quote from one of the most common sense 

 works on practical bee-keeping, which has ever been writtea 

 in our language, and which I would strongly recommend 

 every bee-keeper to purchase : I refer to the " Mysteries 

 of bee-keeping explained, by M. Quinby." His treatise- 

 bears marks on almost every page, of being the work of aa 

 accurate, experienced, and thoroughly honest observer. 

 28* 



