THE HOUSE APIARY.
DESCRIPTION.
This is a double-walled house, which may be rectangular or octagonal in
form. The outer wall should be of brick, and made as thin as possible.
Inside of this there should be wooden strips two-inches thick, which
should receive a layer of paper-sheeting inside, which may be held by
nailing strips two-inches wide immediately inside the first mentioned
strips. These last strips should receive lath, after which all should
be plastered. This may cost more than a purely wooden structure, but
it will be more nearly frost-proof than any other kind of wall, and in
the end will be the cheapest. There will be two dead air-chambers, each
two inches deep, one between the paper and brick, the other between the
paper and the plaster. The entire wall will be at least eight inches
thick. If desired, it may be made less thick by using one-inch strips,
though for our very severe winters the above is none too thick. The
doors and windows should be double and should all shut closely against
rubber. The outer ones should consist of glass, and should be so hung
as to swing out, and in hot weather should be replaced with door, and
window-screens, of coarse, painted, wire gauze. A small window just
above each colony of bees is quite desirable.
Somewhere in the walls there should be a ventilating tube--a brick flue
would be very good--which should open into the room just above the
floor. Above it might open into the attic, which should be well aired.
Ventilators such as are so common on barns might be used.
The pipe for admitting air, should, as in the cellar before described,
pass through the ground and enter the floor from below. A good cellar,
well ventilated and thoroughly dry will be convenient, and should not
be neglected. I would have the building but one story, with joists
in ceiling above eight inches thick. Above these I would sheet with
building paper, fastened by nailing strips two inches deep on top,
above which I would ceil with matched boards. I should lath and plaster
below the joists. The hives, which are to be kept constantly in this
house, may rest on two rows of shelves, one at the floor, the other
three feet high, and should be arranged for both top and side storing
in the small section frames. Indeed, the hive need only consist of
the two rabbeted side-boards (Fig. 30, _c_), and a division-board
with quilt. The entrances of course pass through the wall. An
alighting-board, so hinged as to be let down in summer, but tightly
closed over the entrance during very severe winter weather, I should
think would be very desirable. Between the double windows, which it
will be remembered shut closely against rubber, sacks of chaff may be
placed in winter, if found necessary to keep the proper temperature.
With few colonies this might be very necessary. The adjacent entrances
should vary in color, so that young queens would not go astray, when
they returned from their "Marriage flight."
ARE THEY DESIRABLE?
As yet, I think this question cannot be answered. Some who have tried
them, among whom are Messrs. Russell and Heddon, of this State,
pronounce against them. Perhaps they have faulty houses, perhaps they
have had too brief an experience to judge correctly. Others, among whom
are Messrs. A. I. Root, Burch, and Nellis, have tried them, and are
loud in their favor. I think these first trials are hardly conclusive,
as perfection seldom comes in any system with the first experience.
That the early use of these houses has met with so much favor, seems
to argue that with more experience, and greater perfection, they may
become popular. Yet I would urge people to be slow to adopt these
costly houses, as enough will do so to thoroughly test the matter;
when, if they prove a desideratum, all can build; whereas, if they
prove worthless, we shall not have to regret money squandered, in the
adoption of what was of doubtful value.
THE CASE AS IT NOW STANDS.
The desirable points as they now appear, are: First. The bees are in
condition to winter with no trouble or anxiety. Second. The bees
are handled in the house, and as they fly at once to the windows,
where they can be suffered to escape, they are very easily and safely
handled, even with little or no protection. Third. As we can extract,
manipulate honey boxes, etc., right in the same house, it is desirable
on the score of convenience. Fourth. As the bees are protected from
the sudden rise of the out-door temperature, they will be kept from
frequent flights during the cold, forbidding days of fall, winter and
spring, and will thus be more secure against spring dwindling. Fifth.
As the bees are so independent of out-door heat, because of the thick
walls, with intervening-air-spaces, they are found less inclined to
swarm. Sixth. We can lock our house, and know that thieves cannot steal
our hard-earned property.
The objections to them are: First. The bees leave the hives while being
handled, crawl about the house, from which it is difficult to dislodge
them, especially the young bees. This objection may disappear with
improved houses and practice. Second. In very severe winters, like that
of 1874 and 1875, they may not offer sufficient protection, yet they
would be much safer than chaff hives, as there would be many colonies
all mutually helping each other to maintain the requisite temperature,
and the walls might be even thicker than specified above, without
any serious inconvenience. Third. Some think it pleasanter and more
desirable to handle bees out-doors, where all is unconfined. Fourth.
The cost of the house; yet this is only for once in a life-time, and
saves providing shade, sawdust, packing-boxes, complex hives, etc.
So, we see the question is too complex to be settled except by careful
experiment, and this, too, for a series of years. There are so many now
in use in the various States, that the question must soon be settled. I
predict that these structures will grow more and more into favor.