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.
[Illustration: 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when wholly stopped it may be withdrawn from its place, and a clean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.