Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1871 — Will Bees Work in the Light? [ARTICLE]

Will Bees Work in the Light?

They will. I have two glass hives which I have experimented with for three seasons. The bees worked well, but I could not successfully winter them in the glass hives. The first season, I closed the hives with shutters, to exclude the light until they had built comb. I then opened the shutters, making the hives as light as day, The bees worked well, and stored plenty of honey. About the first of October I closed the shutters. In November, I examined the hives again, and found the bees had consurnedalmost enough honey to have wintered them in a wooden hive. Since that time I always transfered the bees into a wooden hive, as cool weather approaches, and keep them there till spring, when I place them in the glass hives again, keeping them darkened for throe or four weeks. 1 Last spring I placed one of the hives where the sun shone on it. The bees immediately ceased work. I returned them and set the hive in .the shade, but left it open to the light/when the bees commenced to work aaf usual. — Gor. Bee Journal. • _ 2 J*. . '