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DR. MILLER'S 
will have some trouble, for field mice will have entered some of 
the hives before being brought into the cellar. It is better, how- 
ever, to have a mouse confine its loving attention to one colony 
than to give it the free run of all. 
Q. Do you recommend sealed covers for cellar-wintering the 
cellar being damp? 
A. I put my bees in the cellar with covers sealed down; but 
they have entrances full width two inches deep. With very small 
entrances there should be upward ventilation. 
Q. Do bees always keep on humming in the hives all winter 
when in the cellar,, in which the temperature is 45 degrees? If 
not, please tell me the cause. 
A. I believe some say their bees are found entirely quiet, but 
I think mine never are. A humming, more or less pronounced, 
may always be heard, they seem to go somewhat in waves, oc- 
casionally stirring up so as to make quite a little noise, but almost 
entirely quiet during the rest of the time. These periods of occa- 
sional waking up differ in different hives, so that when one stands 
to listen at the door of the bee-room there is a constant, gentle 
murmur, which I confess I rather enjoy hearing. 
Q. There is a continual hum in the hives, sometimes sufficient 
to be heard across the cellar. Is this too much noise to call it 
good behavior and, if so, what is the cause and remedy? Tem- 
perature of cellar is 35 degrees. 
A. Less noise would probably be better; but as cold as 35 de- 
grees they will make a good deal of noise to keep themselves 
warm. Can’t you warm up the cellar in some way? Hot stones 
oi jugs of hot water tightly corked might do. Even if occasion- 
ally to 45 degrees or more, it would help. 
Q. What difficulties may be expected from keeping bees in a 
damp cellar? How can these difficulties be overcome while the 
bees are in such a cellar? 
A. Diarrhea is likely to result if the temperature is not suf- 
ficiently high. Bees have been reported as wintering in the best 
condition in a very wet cellar when the cellar was kept warm 
enough and supplied well with fresh air. Obviously the thing 
to do is to raise the temperature sufficiently, and to see that 
there is a sufficient change of air. 
Q- What do you think of shutting bees in the cellar with 
wire-screen? I use a frame with wire-screen on both sides. I 
close up the entrance with two small nails and a strip of wood. 
1 use another strip to hold all together, instead of staples. 
