In the last article I promised to give some evidence confirming my conclusions, but before doing so I want to say a word in regard to “large vs. small hives.” In the discussion of the subject in the different bee journals from time to time, I neglected to note the size of the frame used by the advocates of a large hive, but I imagine they use a deeper frame than the “L,” and if so they are evidently right in advocating a large hive, for such a hive would be better proportioned, and would conform nearer to the natural requirements of the bees than a small hive with shallow frames.
In Gleanings for July 15th, page 553, friend C. J. H. Gravenhurst, in speaking of “handling hives instead of frames,” hits on the same ideas given in these articles in regard to the winter problem. He tells us that the bees winter better in the straw skeps than they do in the movable frame hives, as made and used at present. This is because the bees in the skeps have their hives propolished overhead which prevents upward ventilation and keeps the bees dry. He also says he gets more honey with less labor and cost; then he shows how he sought to combine the skeps with the movable frame hive, advocating about the same advantages that I have given in these articles.
But the most clinching arguments in favor of doing away with the useless Hill device &c., is found in Ernest R. Root’s review of G. R. Pierce’s book, “The Winter Problem in Bee-Keeping,” which appeared in Gleanings for December 16, ’91, page 952. Mr. Pierce says the pollen theory is not the cause of diarrhea; that diarrhea in bees is caused by cold and lack of stores, and is only intestinal catarrh.
Chaff cushions, or other porous material over a sealed cover are all right and serve a good purpose.
Mr. Pierce is a thorough advocate of protection and packing around the bees; but the cover must be sealed down that no heat can escape into the packing above. In the first of this series of articles I took this same position. I said “Therefore I have drawn the conclusion that a thin walled hive, protected by a movable winter case, and packed on all sides with a cushion made of felt and filled with some non-conducting material—one that will prevent all radiation of heat will be best”—and, in substance, that we could remove cases and packing on warm days and have our hives purified by the sun and air and protect our bees by wrapping them up with the warm cushions and prevent the radiation of heat at night. In the second article (See American Bee-Keeper, page 164) I said the “pollen” theory, and upward ventilation, cut no figure in the winter problem in my locality. Now if we place a thin board down solid on the top bars of our brood frames early enough in the fall for the bees to glue up the crevices and thus prevent all air currents from passing up through our hives, we again get even with our box hive brethren, and when we prevent all radiation of heat by placing a cushion on top of this board, the same as we do the sides. And further, in spring and early summer, when we give our bees just the ventilation required by raising this board, we are another long step ahead of them.
In the winter of 1891 I had The W. T. Falconer Manf’g.’ Co. make for me closed end frames with winter passages through the top bars, and boards to be sealed down for the purpose of carrying out my plan as given above.
“Ernest” tells us of his experiments in using thin boards and pieces of glass imbedded with white lead paste, as it was too cold for the bees to seal them down with propolis. Under the glass he placed a thermometer, which, when the weather outside in the wind was ten degrees above zero, registered 45 to 50, and “the hive was perfectly dry inside.” These are valuable experiments in the right line.
My ideas, as it is plain to be seen, were given to the public before friend Pierce’s book made its appearance, and before “Ernest” tried any experiments on this plan.
On page 592 of Gleanings, L. Stachelhausen tells us that having found out the advantages of closed end frames, he will use no other. The closed end frames have only to be given a fair trial to prove their superiority over all hanging frames. All the “rattle traps and nuisances” I have mentioned in these articles will soon give way to something better and more simple.
Friend Lowry Johnson also is of my way of thinking, as his article in the American Bee-Keeper for December, ’91, page 182, will show. Also Brother Quigley of the Missouri Bee-Keeper, is advising his readers that a board sealed down on top of frames is better for wintering than cushions next to the bees. See his answer to a correspondent to his paper, page 144.