WINTERING BEES. 
109 
WINTERING BEES IN CELLARS. 
The object of wintering bees in cellars, is to have them in a 
place of even temperature, and just cool enough to keep them 
m a state of inactivity, thereby saving many bees and greatly 
essening the consumption of honey. A cellar for this purpose 
ihould be dry, and the hives raised from the floor, to guard 
igainst the combs becoming mouldy from excess of dampness. 
The cellar should be divided by a curtain or other partition, that 
io ray of light may reach the hives when the door is opened, 
rhe bees should not be taken in, until it is evident that winter 
hs commenced in earnest. The hives, if numerous, may be 
placed upon shelves, one above another, and strong stocks must 
have abundant upward ventilation. If the stocks are in the 
aovable-comb hive, this will be secured by leaving off the caps, 
md leaving open the passages through the top bars of the 
frames. Also, the ventilator below the bottom-board should be 
left unobstructed. A piece of wire-cloth, or thin muslin, four- 
teen by fifteen inches square, may be tacked on the top of the 
live, to confine the bees, yet this would be unnecessary if the 
proper degree of temperature were always maintained, and the 
light carefully excluded. When the stocks are in common hives, 
lour or five holes should be bored with an inch bit, through the 
tep of the hive, and covered with wire cloth. Inch strips 
should then be laid upon the shelves, and the hives placed upon 
Hiem in an inverted position. Weak stocks, with hives but 
Partly filled with comb, need less ventilation. In mild weather 
Hie air may sometimes be cooled and purified by opening the door 
