Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-05-22
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IHe sIze oF sEeAIVes.
Large or Small Hives q Question Of Iocal-
ity and Management.

Large or EnuHAA hNNta = SuchNAOAa VI AfoHN-A~
ity and Management.
The advocates Of large hives say that
a colony in a large hive has more stabil-
ity-a superabundance Of vitality, nu-
merous stores, etc.--that safely carry it
through hard winters and poor seasons
It is also asserted that the queen is Civ
en- such an abundance Of room to lay
that more bees are produced, and that
greater body Of bees work TO better ad-
vantage than small one and more honey
is the result. Larger swarms are also ex-
pected from large hives.
Those who favor small hives say that
a large quantity Of honey lies idle--is
dead capital-in the large hives; that il
takes so long in the spring and early
summer to get the large hive full Of
bees, brood and honey that the best Of
the season is over before the bees are
ready for the supers. With small hive
it is maintained that the combs are
more completely filled with brood, as
there are fewer cells to be filed. There
may be fewer bees per hive but really
more per comb, but more hives and
qneens will be needed. Queens cost
nothing, and small hives can be made
Of cheaper lumber, as wide lumber is
more expensive per foot. Small hives
are more easily handled than large ones.
Ali this has reference, OF course, to the
brood nest only, as the surplus apart
ment Of any hive is varied in size ac-
cording to the season or the harvest.
Discussion has brought out the fact
that the most desirable size of hives is
largely question Of locality and man
agement In the northern states, where
the seasons are short, and especially in
those localities where there is ne fall
duced, a small hive is preferable, for
the reason just given-viz. that the sea-
son is over before the colony in large
hive is ready to store honey in the sur
plus apartment. In raising extracted
honey the size Of the brood apartment
is not so important, as the honey can be
extracted even from the brood nest IL
necessary, but it is more convenient to
be able to leave the brood nest undis-
turbed and have the surplus all in one
apartment. In those lower latitudes
where the seasons are longer, or where
there is a fall harvest, the large hives
give excellent results. There is then
time for the colony to build up and I'LL
the hive before the season is over.
The difference between what is called
small hive and large one is not so
very great. An eight frame Langstroth
hive is called a small hive, while ten
frame hive, holding only about 10
pounds more honey, is called a large
hive. A few beekeepers regard even
ten frame hive as small.
For the hiving of swarms from which
an immediate surplus Of comb honey is
expected small hive is imperative. If
a large hive were used, the season
would be over before the hive would be
filed. A hive that can readily be made
larger or smaller, a sectional hive like
the new Heddon, is probably the most
desirable, as the size can be easily
changed to suit the season or circum-
stances. These same changes can be
made with ordinary hives by using di-
vision boards or dummies, but there
is less machinery" or complication
with sectional hives. Only expert bee
keepers and those who make a speciality
of the business should employ small
hives, as it is true that bees in such
hives require closer attention in the way
Of seeing if they are properly supplied
with stores and in wintering them.
Farmers and those who are inclined to
neglect their bees for their main busi-
ness had better use large hives, as colo
nies in such hives can more surely care
for themselves. At the same time it
must not be forgotten that a small hive
is an excellent thing in the hands Of an
expert living in the locality to which
such hive is adapted.
The foregoing was written for Coun-
try Gentleman by that experienced and
successful apiarist, W. 2. Hutchingson.