Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-11-16
INSUFFICIENT INSULATION OF HIVES is
CAUSE OF HEAVY LOSSES.

of approximately 81 degrees r. Wne
the temperature in the hive falls belo'
this point, the bees form cluster
Those in the center begin to general
heat by muscular activity, and those Of
the outside crowd together to proven
the escape of the heat the others are gen
era ing. The lower the temp rature on
side of the cluster is permitted to fall
the more heat must the bees produce in
side, where the temperature frequently
reaches 80 degrees or even more in alb
normal colonies. Prolonged excessive
heat production exhausts their vitality
and even if they survive the winter the.
are unfit for the task of brood rearing IL
the spring. This is usually the cause o
"spring dwindling." The adult bees
worn out by the hard winter, die taste
than the young ones emerge and th'
population diminishes.
Increased heat production also cause
increased consumption of stores. Thi'
in turn leads to an accumulation OF feces
with consequent irritation, further &C
tivity, and more heat production. Some
times the bees are unable to retain the
feces and they are then said to be suffer
ing from dysentery.
These facts emphasize the necessity oI
properly insulated hives in any locality
where the temperature often falls to Al
degrees F. 1t is not possible to give the
beehives too much insulation. To give
them too little is very easy and practi
cally universal. As a means of installa
ton any OF the various materials In com
mon use, such as sawdust, chaff, broker
cork, shavings, paper, dry leaves, etc.
should prove satisfactory. With suff
cient insulation the exact method Oi
packing is also comparatively unimpor
tant. A common practice, however, OF
packing hives at the sides, top, and real
only, leaving the front facing the south
and unprotected, is to be condemned
The theory of course is that the heat Of
the sun will warm up the interior of the
hive and reduce the work of the bees
Any channel, however, which admits
heat into the hive will also let 1t out
and as in winter the sun shines even or
clear days for only small portion of ths
"a hours, more heat is lost than gained
by this method.
In experiments conducted in Pbiladel
phia in 1918 and 1914, four single-wallec
hives were placed in largo packing
case, two facing east and two west
Three inches of packing were placed be
low the hives, 5 inches on the ends, {
inches on the sides, and 8 to II inches or
top. The air that was in the hive but
outside the cluster was found to range
generally from 55 degrees to 81 degrees
In colder climates greater protection
than this will of course be necessary. A
safe guide for the beekeeper is the fac
that there is no such thing as too muct
insulation.
The weak place in the insulation Of
hives is usually the entrance. An open
ing inches wide and three-eighths of ar
inch high, constructed like a tunne
through the packing, is abundant. Ever
this small opening should be carefully
shielded from the wind. As matter OF
fact, however, the beneficial effects ol
even abundant insulation are to great
extent lost If the entire hive is not thor
oughly protected from the wind. The
desirability of such protection has long
been known to beekeepers, but recent
experiments have shown that it is ever
more important than had been supposed
Like insulation, 1t is not possible tt
have protection from the wind too thor
ough.
Proper wintering will greatly dimin
ish the strain which severe weather putt
upon bees, but even under the best Of
conditions their vitality will suffer be
fore spring arrives and brood-rearing be
gins. For this reason it ia most desir
able that in the fall the colonies should
be both populous and full of young bees
A strong colony presents, in proportion
to its numbers, smaller surface for tht
radiation of heat than a weak one, anC
in consequence smaller proportion o.
the heat escapes. In weak colonies tht
bees, in their effort to replace the hea
that is lost frequently raise the tempera
ture of the interior of the cluster so higt
that brood-rearing begins. This is mos
disastrous If 1t happens at time wheI
frequent flights are impossible.
To secure strong colonies Of younl
bees, too rapid an increase In the mum
Der of colonies during the summer mus
be avoided and prolonged brood-rearinl
carried on late in the season.
Essential as adequate insulation is Il
the safety of bees, If the packing is de
lsyed too long it may do more harm thar
good. A colony that has been forced b!
low temperature to generate heat is con
siderably disturbed by the process o
packing, and the temperature in the In
terror of the cluster is at once raised un
duly. This may result in Injurious pre-
mature brood rearing. There is prOba
bly, no place In the United States wher
It Is safe to postpone packing later thai
Thanksgiving Day.
Excessive and unnecessary heat pro
duction and the death of colonies b,
starvation-a common occurrence-ar
closely connected. The more heat tn
bees are called upon to generate th
more honey will they consume. In con
sequence, If inadequate stores are pro
vided for them, they starve before tb
winter is over. The thrifty beekeepe
will aim to save bees, not stores, an,
will therefore be liberal 10 his providing
II he really wants to save stores, how
ever, he can do 1t by supplying insula
ton instead of slinting the bees.
When frames OF honey are supplied
they should be given before cold weath
or, In order that the bees may form
proper clustering space by moving th
honey. Extracted honey may also b
fed. Honey dew honey causes dyser
terry, and If present In the fall should b
removed. In place OF extracted honey
Q thick sugar syrup is more frequentl
supplied. This Is made of from Q
2l2 parts Of sugar to part OF water, b
volume, with an ounce Of tartaric aci
added to each 40 or 90 pounds of sugar
In conclusion the bulletin declare
that better appreciation Of the funds
mental principles of wintering-adt
quate protection to lessen heat produt
tion-will result in a great developmeu
of the possibilities OF commercial BET
keeping. The winter losses, which al
now regarded az almost inevitable, Car
In fact, be readily avoided. The CONS,
quent profit should revolutionize th
beekeeper's balance sheet.
Give the calves and young things th
warmest and sunniest corner of the BARI
Their quarters must be clean, dry an
IsI