Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1869 — Ventilation of Bee Hives. [ARTICLE]

Ventilation of Bee Hives.

A correspondent of the Bee Journal , in speaking of this subject, advances views respecting it which are at variance with those generally entertained. He says; A suitable abode for the honey bee is a hive perfectly air-tight, except at one place, and that should be so that tiie bee-keeper can enlarge or dimisk it tit will. Bees do not thrive in a hive where there is a current of air passing through it. They stop all holes at the top if they can. I hold that all hives that have tlira space, no matter whether they are shallow or deep, giving free circulation of cold air all around the bees, and striking in between each frame to the clustering bees, do more harm than shallowness of the hives. In early spring, if there comes a few days of mild weather, the bee's spread out over the Combs, the queen depositing eggs in nearly all the cells, and the bees cover them. Then comes a cold snap, or even one cold night, causing the bees to cluster compactly together. All the eggs and larvie outside of the cluster are chilled, and cleaned out by the bees. And so it goes all through the changeable weather of spring. All hives that have this vacant space, it is most impossible for bees to breed up in at all in early spring; making them too late for early swarming or to gather honey when it is mokt plentiful. If such hives have lower and -upper ventilation, letting the cool air rush up through the hive and carrying off the animal heat, the bees in them are worthless. Comb frames should fit tight to the side of the hive, to prevent this vacant space. --■ ——