Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-05
4 Drone Bcc.

point OF view as 10 success with this
vital problem. No bee keeper. declare
epeotnlists IN the United states Depart
ment OF Agriculture. ever gave a COLONY
too much protection in the winter. II
the majority would give enough. win
ter losses would be vastly decreased
The aim Of the hee keeper should he
to maintain temperature ahou: the
bees of approximately 81 degrees Y.
When tho Temperature in the hive
falls below this point. the bees form
a cluster. Those In the center begin
20 generate heat by muscular activity.
and those on the outside crowd to-
Eether 10 prevent the escape of the
heat the others are generating. The
lower the temperature outside of tho
cluster is permitted 10 fall. the more
heat must the bees produce inside
where the temperature frequently
reaches 90 degrees or even more in alb
normal colonies. Prolonged excessive
heat production rHhausts their vitality.
and even II they survive the winter,
they are unfit for the task Of brood
rearing in the spring. This is usually
the cause OF spring -dwindliuE The
adult bees. worn out by the hard win
ter. die faster than the young ones
emerge. and the population dtnlinishes.
Increased heat production also causes
increased consumption OF stores. This.
in turn. leads :" an accumulation Of
feces. with consequent irritation, FUR
ton. Sometimes the bees are unable
10 retain the fcces. and they are then
said TO be suffering from dysentery.
These facts emphasize the necessity
OF properly insulated hives in any To-
cality where the temperature often
falls to 80 degrees +. II liz not pos
sibie to give the bee hives too much
insulation. To give them too little Is
very easy and practically universal.
AS means Of insulation. any of the
various materials in common use. such
as sawdust, Chnf. broken cork shay
ings paper. dry leaves. ETC. should
prove satisfactory. With sufficient In
sulation the exact method Of packing
is also comparatively unimportant.
common practice, however. Of packing
hives AT the sides. top and rear only.
leaving the front facing the south aud
unprotected, is 10 he condemned The
theory. Of course. is thar the heat of
the sun will warm UP tho interior or
the hive and reduce the work Of the
bees. Any channel. however, which
admits heat into the hive will also let
II out. and as in winter the san shines
even on clear days for only small
portion OF the twenty-four hours more
heat Is lost than gained by this meth
Cd
In experiments conducted in phila-
deiph!a IN 1913 and 1914. four single
walled hives were placed ia Il large
pa cking case. two facing east and TWO
west. Three inches Of packing were
placed below tho hive, I'VE inches on
the ends. six inches: <n th.. sides and
eight 10 twelve inclrcs'Sn top. The air
ina, was In the hive, but outside the
cluster, vas found 10 range generally
from IS degrees TO 81 degrees. III
colder climates, greater protection than
this viii OF course be- necessary \ safe
guide for The beek"cp"r is the fact
tina; ther" is no such thing as TOO much
insulation.
The weak place in The Insulation OF
hives Is usually tho entrance. An open
ing eight inches vide and threc-cirhths
of an inch nigh. constructed like a ,u,i-
mel through the packing, is abundant
Even this small opening should he
carefully shielded from the wind As
mater OF fact, however the bene-
fetal effects Of even abundant iusuia-
ton are "a great extent lost II the
entire hive - not thoroughlv protected
from tho wind The dcsirabilitv OF
such Profession mas long been known
% heekctpers. hat recon, experiments
nave shown that - IS even NOR" nm
i'orthnt than had been supposed. Like
insulation. II : not possjbi. To have.
protection from the wind too thorough
Proper winter,ng VIII greatly dirniu-
.sh the strain which severe weather
puts upon bees, bu; even under The he's,