The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-10-29
Ventilation of Bee.Hives.

There has been great deal written
and said about ventilating hives. We all
know that the bees will stop every crack
they can with propolis, or bee glue" and
thus secure themselves against drafts of
cold air in severe weather. In summer
bees hang more or less outside the hive,
and by tanning with their wings at the
entrance indicate that plenty of air is
acceptable. We find some commercially
sensible notions on this subject credited
to Mr. S. G. Balch, as read before the
National Bee-Kecpers' Association at IL
recent meeting:
have my hives made as tight as the
best mechanics can make them (thcy
are double hives at that, and in the fall
allow the bees to glue the top as close as
they will land they will make it nearly
air-tight), and am very careful not to re-
move the covers too late for them to do
so. l then close the entrance so as to
leave not more than one inch square for
the strongest colonies-others in proper
tion-and if they have sufficient food
and enough bees they are there prepared
for their winter quarters whenever win
ter comes.
My winter repository is as tight as
brick and mortar can make it, with two
outside ventilators, each two by four
inches, and one at the top four inches
square, which l consider "ventilation"
enough for 100 colonies; and were it not
for my belief that it is always best to let
wcll-enough alone, would give none at
all.
But will not hives and combs become
damp and moldy with such treatment.
There will be little dampncss and some
white mold, but is there not still more
with upward ventilation? Cold air, pass
ing through the hives and being warmed
by coming. in contact with the bees,
would of itself create a humid atmos-
phcre, which would condcnse and col
lect on unoccupied comb and the walls
of the hive. AS result of this we have
our uncappcd honey diluted, fcrmented
pollen and moldy combs. Bcc-kcepers,
do you not find this the case with up
ward ventilation? do not without it.
Again, the cold air passing in from the
bottom of the hive strikes the bees on
the outside of the cluster. and like some
farmers hogs, sleeping in a fence corner,
that quarrel and sQueal for the middle of
the nest. they, too, are constantly trying
to get inside the cluster where it is
warmer, and the whole colony is kept on
the move, the bees on the outside trying
to get inside, and those on the inside
of the cluster to stay inside. Bees have
another OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES If you
please and that is, whenever disturbed
they do one of two things-fight or eat
They have nothing to fight, so they eat
until gorged with honey, and finally void
their frces in the hive. This, in my opin-
ion, accounts for the bees soiling their
hives, or, as many term it. dysentcry. My
bees do not have it. Do yours? You lay
it to bad honey; may it not also be bad
pollen or bee bread, and are you sure that
it is not made so 10y the way you treat
your bees?
Now for summer ventilation l give
them entrance according to the strength
of the colony and the amount of work
they have to do. I have nine one-inch
holes or ventilators to the hive, and if
the colony be strong and the weather cx-
cessively warm open all, ventilating in
proportion to strength of colonies and
warmth of atmosphere; and rarely have
bees cluster outside the hive, and still
not have it so cold as to chill, brood or
prevent their making comb or molding
waX.-RuraI Nev Yorker.