The Bee Keeper's Guide, Third Edition / Containing concise practical directions for the management of bees, upon the depriving system

by J. H. Payne

[6] Purchas, on Swarms.

Since the publication of the First Edition of this little Treatise, many persons have said to me, "their Bees would swarm, although the small hive had been placed on as directed above, and sometimes after they had commenced working in it," the reason for which, in my opinion is, that the second small hive was not supplied soon enough, for the like has never in a single instance occurred with my own Bees. I have not had a swarm these twenty years, from any of the hives worked upon the Depriving System, occasionally I have compelled a hive to swarm, to fill up a vacancy in my number, where the Queen has died, or some other accident destroyed the stock.

The population of a hive increases rapidly in April and May, and consequently the internal temperature rises in proportion, a very high temperature causes swarming, (Mr. Nutt says 130°) although the Bees may have abundance of room—I have frequently seen a glass lamp that has no opening at the top, placed upon a hive, and the result has been that the Bees swarmed before they had filled it. If both room and ventilation are carefully attended to, swarming may be prevented altogether, and that the one may be as completely under the control of the proprietor as the other, I would recommend Mr. Taylor's Ventilator, which I believe to be a perfect one, for when properly arranged, it will reduce the temperature of a hive at the swarming season, from ten to twenty degrees in a few minutes—I would recommend its insertion in the top of the small hive, box, or glass, before it is placed upon the larger one.

"The Ventilator I use," says Mr. Taylor, "(and I have made them of various forms) consists of double tubes, both resting on a flauch in the holes prepared for them, the outer tube is of one inch diameter and six 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 of perforated zinc, with a[7] tin projecting top as a handle, and a cap to put on or off this as required. The Bees will stop up the inner tube where 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 When wholly stopped, it may be withdrawn from its place, and a clean tube substituted.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.

[7] In adopting Mr. Taylor's Ventilator to the small hive, the inner tube must be made without "the projecting top as a handle," and the cap made even with the flauch.

"In order occasionally to know the temperature of any of the boxes, a thermometer made to fit the ventilator may be inserted in it. This is chiefly useful as a matter of precaution towards the swarming season.

"Some have thought it necessary to cut holes in the floor-board, or have placed drawers underneath, to aid the ventilation, but I have always found the mouth of the hive sufficient for all purposes."

All operations except joining swarms or stocks, should be performed on a fine day, about noon, they may then be done with much less annoyance to the Bees, as well as with less chance of danger to the operator.