Graham guardian., 1908-04-24
Protect Bees in the Spring

IL the inside wor kings of a hive
of bees were better understood |
think that bee keepers would
be more inclined to protect hives
in spring aud use every possible
means to prevent the escape of the
heat generated by the bees.
Let us consider the conditions
as they exist in u normal colony
of bees when taken from the cellar.
The hive in mates are about I've
or six months old and have only a
month or six weeks more to live.
Now, in order that the hive may
not IN time become totally depop-
ulated, the queen bee deposits eggs
in the cells. In about three days
the eggs batch, and the resulting
larvae are fed by the matured bees
for about six days. Then the cells
are sealed. After the lapse Of
about twelve more days young
bees hatch, or emerg', as some In
sist it should be termed. Thus
the cycle, or circuit, proceeds -old
bees dying off and young bees
Matching to take their place.
In order that tbs eggs may hatch
and result in matured bees the
temperature inside the bee cluster
must be maintained at from 92 to
to 9S degrees Fahrenheit. Now,
when there is only comparatively
small number of hees, they will
not be able to maintain this high
temperature, and also they cannot
feed and care for as large a mum
Der OF larvae as must batch TO take
the place of the old bees dying off.
From what has been said it
should be evident that when COW
ers do not fit we'll much of the
warmth generated by the bees will
escape. Also, hives exposed TO
the cold, piercing winds are IN
poor condition for the bees to
keep up the necessary high tenn
perature for brood rearing.
Yet, how often do we see hives
: full of cracks through which wind
can blow, and covers such that
rain can beat into tho hives; and
the apiary situated in the most ex-
posed part of the home yard. Bees
under these conditions can not rear
barvesters for the white clover
nectar flow.
Now, to help the bees in keep
ing up the hive temperature, the
spiary should be located in shell
tered place. A clump of trees, a
high board fence, row of ever
green or farm buildings on the
wiDdward side Of the apiary, help
much to break the force of the
wind.
Hive entrances, too, must be
contracted to 3 4 by 3 inches for
normal sized col MES, and made
much smaller for weaker ones.
For very weak colony | have
entrances of such size that only
one or two bees can pass at one
ime.
As beat rises il escapes most
easily and most rapidly when hive
covers do not fit tightly. Unless
tie propolis connections OF the
pevious fall have not been broken
no hive cover will fit tightly. To
make hives tight on top first lay
a piece of oilclotb with the coated
side toward the bees on top Of the
lrames. Oiled blankets or carpets
and other like heavy cloths are
then put on to the oilcloth. When
one has a large number of colonies
heavy cloths of this kind can per-
haps not be used over every single
hive. Anyway, | once got into
that fix. To overcome it thought
pi psipg building paper. II wol KS
10 perfection. :
Felt is y good nou-conductor OF
heat, and it has occurred to me
that it would be just the thing to
use over hives under the covers.
As Twill have to cut some more
paper covers for next springs use
I will give felt trial. have re-
ccived 1rom mail order firms sam