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when they can get at it, when it may be turned round a little to present a new surface; when wholly stopped it may be withdrawn from its place, and a clean tube substituted.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.
FEEDING.
The best kind of food that can be given to Bees is honey liquefied with a small portion of warm water; but where honey is scarce and dear, an excellent substitute will be found in lump sugar. Three pounds of sugar to a pint of water, boiled for two or three minutes, and then mixed with a pound of honey, this will make five pounds of excellent food, which the Bees appear to like quite as well as honey alone. Or three pounds of lump sugar may be dissolved in two pounds of water by being boiled a minute or two. This is a very cheap and simple Bee food, and really answers every purpose.
Of all other kinds of food (where honey in the combs cannot be had) barley-sugar is the best, and not only the best and the cheapest, but the safest and by far the least trouble; for when liquid food is used it is carried down by the Bees immediately upon its being supplied and stored in the combs, and the proprietor has no means of knowing at what time the store is exhausted, and a fresh supply required; but it is not so with barley-sugar, for whilst a morsel remains, which may easily be seen, it is certain the Bees will not die of want. The best method of supplying it is at the top of the hives or boxes. My plan is to tie a dozen sticks of it together, and after opening the hive at top, to place the barley-sugar over the opening, and to cover it with a garden-pan or flower-pot; and just before it is all consumed, give a fresh supply in a similar way. Persons generally are apt to imagine that as soon as a few blossoms make their appearance in the spring their Bees will not want any attention, which is a very great mistake, as many a young apiarian has discovered both to his cost and disappointment; for during the months of March and April greater care is required in feeding than at any other time, for the population is then rapidly increasing, and in a wet and cloudy season no supplies whatever can be obtained but by artificial means.