THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 6 November 1890, Page 5

THE APIARY.

By Novice.

HIVES.

jln a state of nature bees select some hole in a decaying tree or crevice in a rook, and are even sometimes satisfied with such shelter as is afforded by a thick hedge. Where they occupy a' t cavity which is too large for them.a close examination will show that there is on the out? Bide a curtain of bees hanging down about an inch in thickness, as a protection to the inside nUss of bees, whioh are carrying on the work of comb building, hatching, and rearing brood,, &co., and who require a temperature of about. 9^>deg to enable them to work satisfactorily, This outer living wall will be found to increase in thickneßS on the side which is exposed to a current of cold air ; while it will diminish, and even disappear altogether, from the side whioh is protected. This shows us plainly the necessity of encasing the bees with protecting walls which shall relieve them from providing their own protection. A little consideration will therefore show us that it is of the first importance in selecting a hive for our bees that it should be elastic, that' it ban at will be so contracted as to meet the requirements of a very email colony or enlarged without trouble to accommodate the largest. I have often heard it remarked thathivesgatherno honey, and that bees will gather as much honey in an old nail kjeg bb in a hive of the most approved construction ; but this is not so unless the owner leaves them in both oases to look after themselves — in other words, neglects them. To prova this, let us take a colony that at this time, in a properly constructed Lapgstroth hive, is disposed over six frames, with four outside frames, two on each side unoooupiad ; brcod will probably be found on four frames. Now by shifting these four frames to the side of the hive most exposed to the sun, and placing a division board oloseto them, we shall see a marked improvement in the working of this colony at once; half as many bees again will be at work than before. Why is this ? Because, having gives them the protection of the division board ; there has been released quits half the working population of the hive, who had before been kept at home in enforced idleness, merely to concentrate heat in the brood neat. These being at liberty, help 'to build up the colony, which will now inorease at a rapid rate ; and additional room should be given by drawing baok the division board and placing an empty comb inside, as soon as they bsoome crowded for room, not before ; neither should it be delayed until the bees' are all of them unable to get inside. Thoußh hives do not therefore gather honey, they enable us to so assist the bees that much larger quantities are gathered. We scarcely realise now, when we see the hivo of modern construction, simple aa it is, how much time and thought have been spent in bringing it up to its present perfection. The one great desideratum ia aocuraoy. The oorreot bee space is bare gin. Keeai,bis space exaot between the frames and the floor board, between the frames of the upper and lower storey, and between the ends of frames and the hive, and everything works beautifully ; inorease this space to |iv, or half it to f T in, and then ace what a mess everything will be in, with comb filled with , honey in the larger apace, and propolis fixing everything rigid and immovable in the smaller, trying the temper of

both bees and operator, when each oombs have to ba removed; ." ' ' " • • Kite's niay nowadays be divided in two classes — viz, theme with movable hanging ' frames as in the Langstrotb, and those with closed end bars, as in the Heddon. Thete are Variations in the sisia of frames in pleQty*=iii fact, most young beekeep9rs soon bepin to think they are able to tnake an improvement,' and are very enthusiastic for a time ', but Boon we see these improvements piled up in an odd Corner in the garden, and the now experienced beekeeper fallitiff brick on the standard hive and frames. The f&ot that there" ate more LsSngstroth hivea in use than of all other hiVes together is sufficient proof that it meets the requirements of both bees and beekeeper. ' Its outside dimensions are 20£ in by.l Gin. - It is usually made of 7-Bin timber. , The size of the frame is 17 5 Bin by 0 l-Bin /outside measure), with a top bar ljJjailong. The bodies of the hive should, be made to tier up one above another, alivaya preserving an Scfctirftte bee, space, between the frames;- I frequently tise (jhem three storeys high, and sometimes three acid ahalf." There is one point frequently neglected, .and yet, of vital. importance, and that ia the covering of the bees.' " The hive, so far as the bees are oo^oemed, must be closed at the top of Ithe iraineß— the roof is only to she. d t the ram. I have used during the past winter' three or four thicknesses of brown paper with ' most 'satisfactory results. The usual linen mifmust be underneath', or the bees will 'bite' away the paper; but I strongly reoommend'a trial of it ' ' ' We bad our first swarm on Ist of Novemi bet) and the bees, taken all together; are in; excellent Condition. With good ' weather, | there is a prospect of a pftylntf season, as the market is quite bare of honey. ' '