VENTILATION.
Much has been said about ventilation, and many are the inventions for effecting it, but I have not seen one that is really efficient; its advantages, both in preventing swarms and in preserving the colour of the combs, no person at all acquainted with the management of Bees will deny.
Fig. 23.
The best ventilator that I have seen is this of Mr. Taylor's. "The ventilator I use," says Mr. T., "consists of double tubes, both resting on a flaunch in the hole prepared for them; the outer tube is of one-inch diameter, and 6 inches long, with six half-inch holes dispersed over it; it is soon fixed down in its place by the Bees, and so must remain. The inner tube is perforated zinc, with a tin projecting top as a handle, and a cap to put on or off this as required. The Bees will stop up the zinc tube when they can get at it, when it may be turned round a little to present a new surface; when wholly stopped it may be withdrawn from its place, and a clean tube substituted. This may be done without the least danger to the operator; but it should be inserted carefully, to avoid crushing any Bees that may have crept within the outer tube. An exit to these is afforded by the hole at the bottom. The substance with which Bees glue up all crevices and attach their combs is called propolis, a resinous exudation from certain trees, of a fragrant smell, and removable by the aid of hot water."
In adapting Mr. Taylor's ventilator to the small hive or box, the inner tube must be made without "the projecting top as a handle," and the cap made even with the flaunch.
After, all, however, the most certain, as well as the most simple, plan is to lift the stories apart upon small pieces of sheet lead, especially between the stock hive and glass box, or small hive in immediate connection with it. The stock hive itself may also be raised half an inch from the floor-board by blocks of wood of that thickness. This precaution is necessary only in very sultry weather, and when swarming is likely to occur. No fears need be entertained at this time of robbers; for when honey is to be had abroad the Bees will not pilfer it from their neighbours at home. As soon as the very hot weather is over, it will be necessary to remove the blocks and restore the hives to their original position.