THE CASE AS IT NOW STANDS.
The desirable points as they now appear, are: First. The bees are in condition to winter with no trouble or anxiety. Second. The bees are handled in the house, and as they fly at once to the windows, where they can be suffered to escape, they are very easily and safely handled, even with little or no protection. Third. As we can extract, manipulate honey boxes, etc., right in the same house, it is desirable on the score of convenience. Fourth. As the bees are protected from the sudden rise of the out-door temperature, they will be kept from frequent flights during the cold, forbidding days of fall, winter and spring, and will thus be more secure against spring dwindling. Fifth. As the bees are so independent of out-door heat, because of the thick walls, with intervening-air-spaces, they are found less inclined to swarm. Sixth. We can lock our house, and know that thieves cannot steal our hard-earned property.
The objections to them are: First. The bees leave the hives while being handled, crawl about the house, from which it is difficult to dislodge them, especially the young bees. This objection may disappear with improved houses and practice. Second. In very severe winters, like that of 1874 and 1875, they may not offer sufficient protection, yet they would be much safer than chaff hives, as there would be many colonies all mutually helping each other to maintain the requisite temperature, and the walls might be even thicker than specified above, without any serious inconvenience. Third. Some think it pleasanter and more desirable to handle bees out-doors, where all is unconfined. Fourth. The cost of the house; yet this is only for once in a life-time, and saves providing shade, sawdust, packing-boxes, complex hives, etc.
So, we see the question is too complex to be settled except by careful experiment, and this, too, for a series of years. There are so many now in use in the various States, that the question must soon be settled. I predict that these structures will grow more and more into favor.
CHAPTER XIX.
EVILS THAT CONFRONT THE APIARIST.
There are various dangers that are likely to vex the apiarist, and even to stand in the way of successful apiculture.—Yet, with knowledge, most, if not all of these evils may be wholly vanquished. Among these are: Robbing among the bees, disease, and depredations from other animals.