NEW TREATMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 31 December 1935, Page 9

NEW TREATMENT

BEES AND ELECTRICITY AN AID TO CLIMATE. Bees, like humans, find the English spring somewhat trying. Recent practice has shown that they respond admirably to artificial warmth and sunshine. In a recent issue of Discovery Mr V. Sinclair gives come interesting details c-n the application of electrical treatment, by w-hich, h-e states, “the bee-keeper stands to benefit in several respects. ’ ’ The pioneers of this application, starting from the recognition that natural functions are frequently handicapped by climatic and geographical conditions, and being aware of the fact that early spring weather is very fickle, concluded that if fowls could be induced to lay more eggs by giving them an artificially lengthened day, bees wc-uld probably be more efficient if adequate compensation were provided for an elusive ideal spring. Experiments were therefore made with the object in view that bees, on awakening from their winter torpidity and resuming their spring activity, should find themselves for some time in artificially created ideal spring conditions and not be subjected to the weakening due to cold winds and night frosts. The English climate is particularly erratic in these respects just before the time when the apple blossom is at its best; then, if broods have been chilled and debilitated beforehand by bad weather, nc-t only are they too weak to fly far afleld and to make the best of that source of honey, but the apple trees do not get the

amount of pollination that is necessary to ensure a goc-d crop of fruit. Practical Methods. As a result of the experiments, practical methods have been established, which are within the reach of every bee-keeper w'here electricity is available, the actual quantity consumed being an almost negligible factor. The .principal benefits which, accrue are strong hives which are less subject to diseases ,an earlier and increased yield of honey, and, as stated, better pollination of the apple orchard, with larger crops. The principal employed is to make an outlet at the back of each hive and to br’’ig up against this a special fitting lighted and heated electrically, where the bees can feed and take exercise irrespective of weather and earlier in the season than normally. The principle may be applied in either one of two ways —in .the one, the fitting takes the form of a special enclosure, covered in the glass and containing the necessary deceptions; in the other, the hives that are to be treated electrically are housed under a common roof, and the fitting consists of a table on which the stage is prepared.’ Where a suitable house is available the advantages of the latter method are that the outlay on fittings is much less and the* hives can be attended to in any weather without risk of chilling the broods. We shall therefore confine our remarks to this method, on which some of the principal pioneer work has been, and is being, carried out by Mr R. Borlase Matthews on his allelecric farm at Greater Felcourt, East Grinstead, Sussex. Under One iux>r. Here, from eight to ten hives have been housed und-er a common roof, the building being provided with openings in the outer walls for the bees to reach the open air when the treatment has been completed and the weather is settled. The bee house is, of course, lighted and heated electrically, the temperature being automatically maintained at about 60deg F by moans of a thermostatic device. At the appropriate time a table is brought up against the back of each hive and is closed off by means of a glazed door. The equipment on the table and in the chamber thus formed consists, firstly, of a special reflector, of a shape arrived at by experiment, containing a 60-watt electric lamp and closed with a thick disc of glass. The object of the latter is to prevent the bees which cluster in front of the lamp from getting burnt. The reflector is tilted at such an angle as to throw the light into the back outlet of the hive. This represents thn artificial sun. -The further deceptions consist of early-flowering plants, such as cherry blossom and palm, which are placed in water, changed daily, and provided a little natural pollen; a dish of loaf sugar syrup containing vinegar and salt to stimulate the production of brood honey; a saucer of pure water, and last, but not least, another saucer containing artificial pollen. A thermometer is hung on the wall over the table, and a small electric heater is placed und«r the table. Attracted Out. When the hive becomes aware of the light shining through the rear opening the working bees are attracted out on to the table, where they are deceived by the artificially arranged natural conditions into taking exercise and feeding in warmth and light. Simultaneously, the queen bee begins to lay her eggs at a time when, if the hive were in the open, she would not do so. The result is that by the time the apple blossom is at its best optimum a strong hive is forthcoming, capable of emerging and of taking full advantage of this source g of food when other hives in the same neighbourhood are not strong enough to do likewise. • Records taken at Greater Felcourt have established the fact that hives treated in this manner yield on the average about 17 to 181 b more honey per annum. This in itself, might not be considered sufficient inducement to adopt the treatment, but when the benefits as a whole are taken into consideration over a period of time, it has been found that the treatment is worth while and pays for itself. Apart from the fact that it does not involve over-working the bees or their productive organs, but merely rectifies climatic irregulatities, it must be obvious that a strong hive is an asset which is less subject to disease.