26 BULLETIN 96, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Another fact to which reference has been made under the caption, 

 " Effects of cluster heat on the temperature below the frames," 

 should be mentioned here. During this period of storm, / frequently 

 recorded a higher temperature than the thermometers above it. 

 This was undoubtedly due to the crowding of the bees in off of the 

 alighting board, forming a curtain below the frames. This is an 

 advantage in helping to conserve the heat and in preventing the cold, 

 inward draft through the entrance from striking directly on the 

 brood. 



THE EFFECTS OF TRANSPORTATION ON THE TEMPERATURE OF THE 



COLONY. 



Not infrequently beekeepers sustain heavy losses in moving their 

 bees, although it is not usually done in extremely hot weather. 

 Since the moving of the experimental colony to College Park, Md., a 

 distance of about 11 miles, was unavoidable, the writer decided to 

 make the most of the necessity and determine in so far as possible the 

 effects of transportation on the colony. Even with precautions, 

 strong and populous colonies sometimes smother. Brood is often 

 killed, supposedly from excessive heat. With these points in mind 

 every precaution was taken to protect the colony from harm; and 

 since no damage resulted, the experiment reveals the temperature 

 conditions in a successful transportation of a strong colony under 

 most adverse circumstances — extreme heat and humidity and bad 

 roads. 



The trip was commenced at 10.30 a. m. on July 2. The day was 

 humid, with intermittent sunshine and clouds, and no breeze. In 

 Washington the mercury rose to 32.33° C. (90° F.) at 2 o'clock. The 

 road was through the city of Washington over asphalt and stone 

 pavements for several miles and then over rough country roads, which 

 had scarcely any shade. The colony was moved on a spring express 

 wagon with cover, the curtains of which were kept down on the sunny 

 side so as to prevent the sun from striking directly on the hive. The 

 other curtains were rolled up in order to allow all the ventilation 

 possible, but since there was no breeze all the draft which the 

 bees got must have been procured by fanning and by the movement 

 of the wagon. 



The colony was crowded into a 10-frame Langs troth hive and the 

 entrance was screened the night previous. All of the thermometers 

 remained in position. This, of course, prevented giving ventilation 

 through the top of the hive, which is the common practice in moving 

 bees. In order to give room for expansion of the cluster and to con- 

 fine the air as little as possible, the hive was set over an empty body, 

 on the bottom of which wire cloth was tacked. In order to allow the 

 air to circulate freely beneath the hive, it was supported above the 



