The honey-bee: its nature, homes and productsHarris, William Hetherington
Science
The honey-bee: its nature, homes and products
Harris, William Hetherington
Bee culture; Bees
Passing now to the notice of some of these, we will draw attention
first to "Nutt's Collateral Hive"--named from its first maker, who may
be considered a pioneer in the improved modern methods.
It consists of three boxes side by side, and having thin wooden
partitions, with six or seven perforations, to admit of the passage
of the bees from one compartment to another. These may be stopped by
zinc slides. In the centre of the top is a wooden cover, to contain
a bell-glass for supering. A ventilator over each of the side-boxes
secures the proper temperature of these. "The grand object," as
explained by Mr. Nutt, "is to keep the end boxes and the bell-glass
cooler than the pavilion or middle box, so as to induce the queen to
propagate her species there only, and not in the depriving (_i.e._
honey-storing) part of the hive. By this means the side and upper combs
are in no way discoloured by brood. The queen requires a considerable
degree of warmth. The bees enjoy coolness in the side-boxes, and
thereby the whiteness and purity of the luscious store are increased."
When the centre box is filled, access to the super and one side-box
may be given by opening the slides. The glass is likely to be filled
first, if kept warm by suitable coverings, and can be removed when the
honey is sealed in the combs. If the season be very productive, one or
both of the side-boxes may also be taken before the end of the summer,
if sufficient stores are left in the central stock-portion, or if any
deficiency be made up by judicious feeding.
[Illustration: Fig. 47.--Modern Hives. Nutt's Collateral Hive in the
Foreground.]
The next and most important modification to which we come is the
introduction of movable frames into hives, admitting of separate
removal, either for examination as to conditions, or for the taking of
honey. Bevan whose admirable work on _The Honey Bee_, published nearly
half a century ago, is the foundation of modern systems of apiculture
in this country--speaks of a straw hive with bars, instead of a solid
top, invented by Mr. Golding, and named by him "The Village Hive." Even
now we consider this variety might well be the cottager's introduction
to the more enlightened methods of procedure; and it would, at the same
time, satisfy, in large measure, old-fashioned prejudices in favour
of straw for the material of the stock-hive. If the bars are properly
furnished with "guides," straight and symmetrical combs may be secured,
and the depriving of surplus honey-stores may be easily effected
without murdering the workers.
Previous to this invention, Réaumur, Bonnet, and Huber had suggested,
and tried, the use of boxes with movable bar-frames. The last named
apiarian is said to have borrowed his idea from the inhabitants of
Candia, and he called it the "leaf-hive." In its original form it had
eight frames, secured to each other by hooks and eyes, the external
ones being glazed, and covered with a shutter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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