A book about bees. Their history, habits, and instincts; together with the first principles of modern beekeeping for young readers by Jenyns Charles Fitzgerald Gambier

Author:Jenyns, Charles Fitzgerald Gambier
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Bees
Publisher: London, W. Gardner, Darton, & co.
Published: 1886-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

Straw Hive and Super.

closed with a cap or cork. And, above all, let it have a flat top, as in the illustration, because you will want to place upon it, what is called a super, in which the bees will make honey for you to take, and this super will not stand well if the top is round. And then by some means you must manage to keep the hive dry; placing over it some kind of covering, so that no rain can reach it to make it damp. And, when you choose a place for it to stand, see that it is well sheltered from cold winds, and in a situation where, as far as possible, the early sun will shine upon it. A guide-book will give you other directions, but these are the chief things to remember.

Formerly the straw skep was nearly the only kind of hive used, and many bee-keepers even now, prefer them to others. And certainly such hives have their advantages. They do not require so much care or trouble as other hives; and bees thrive very well in them for a time, for the straw is a very good material to keep the bees warm in winter, and at the right temperature in summer. And although they are called old-fashioned, they may easily be kept without there being any necessity to kill the bees in the old-fashioned, cruel way. And very good honey may be obtained from them, although not nearly the quantity which we get from the more modern hives.

But at the same time they have their disadvantages, and I am only advising you to get such a hive just to begin with, and that you may get accustomed to the bees; and also that you may, when you want it, get a swarm to put into a better hive. The disadvantages, indeed, are so many and so serious tha

I hope you will not be content without soon having something better.

To give you some idea of these disadvantages : suppose something goes wrong with the bees—some of their enemies get inside, or the bees are ill, as sometimes is the case ;—you know that it is so, that things are wrong; but what can you do ? There the bees are, safely shut up in a hive, where you cannot either see or help them. There are things you could do, and remedies you could apply, which would soon put all straight again, but you are helpless to do anything.

Think how it would be if you yourself were in similar circumstances. We will suppose that you arc ill, and the doctor sent for. He comes, and feels your pulse, and asks you many questions, and so prescribes his medicine. But what could the doctor do if, when he came, he had to stand outside the house, and not even see you through a window ? And of what use would be all his medicine if, when brought, it had to be set down

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.