British bee journal & bee-keepers adviser by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Bees
Publisher: London
Published: 1873-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.

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vapour cannot escape through the crown, but condenses inside the hive, to the great discomforture of the bees. Straw is undoubtedly a good non-conductor of heat, but to remain so it must be kept dry. A straw hive, when once soddened with moisture, no matter whence obtained, is not an easy thing to render dry again, when in possession of a stock of bees, for they will be continually generating moisture which will condense on the inside of it, robbing the internal atmosphere of its heat, and necessitating continued effort on the part of the bees and increased consumption of stores, to maintain the degree of heat necessary in the hive.

To keep a skep dry, the roof or cover should extend so far all round it as to protect the whole of its floor board from the driving rains, or some interposing material should be made use of. An American cheese box, as recommended by the late Mr. Pagden, is an excellent outside case for a skep, as it may be completely covered by a milk pan, and is a safe protection from the rains, &c., and when stuffed inside with hay, straw, or saw dust, will afford capital protection against the vicissitudes of the temperature. In all cases, however, a large handful of hay or straw, or a pad of carpeting should intervene between the hive and the milk pan, to permit of the escape of the moist vapour from the hive without condensation immediately in connection with it. This vapour might be allowed to escape in a perfectly harmless way if the pan were kept from close contact with the material between it and the hive, by means of a bit of old basket work, a handful of light brushwood, or some similar appliance which ■would permit the vapour to pass off in a lateral direction. The old straw hackle must not be forgotten as a good temporary means of shelter. It is easy to make and apply, but if often removed soon becomes ragged and ineffective. It is only necessary to tie a bundle of straight straws firmly by one end, wet the whole until it becomes tough and pliant, open it like an umbrella, and slip it over the hive. Then, when evenly arranged, a hoop or string should be put round it near the bottom of the hive, and the ragged ends of the straw clipped oft". This is a favourite cover with many bee keepers, but our objection to it is that it so soon becomes useless.

Next to outer protection, ventilation claijns most careful attention. It is with bees as with flame, neither can exist without air, yet too great a supply of it may destroy both.

We-are continually being asked " How much ven-

tilation ought my bees to have?" a question we are entirely unable to answer, because the necessities of each stock depend so much on its strength and condition and the kind and size of hive in. Mr. Cheshire's

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