MOST CONVENIENT SHAPE OF HIVES.
One of the chief objects of my researches has been, to ascertain what
shape of hive is the most profitable; and, with this view, I have
tried all the different kinds in my apiary, and I have invariably
remarked, that bees thrive better in low hives than in high ones; that,
in general, those which are broad and flat, or extended horizontally,
amass more honey, thrive better, and give out stronger and earlier
swarms, than those which are high, and of several stories, and for the
following reasons.
A hive thrives only in proportion to the success or perfection of its
brood-comb. If the spring eggs come out well, the hive will stock,
give out swarms at the proper time, and collect a great deal of honey,
because the strength of its population will enable it to take advantage
of fine days; while a weak hive will only give out late swarms; and,
having few labourers, will gather very little honey. It is, therefore,
of great importance to assist the hive as much as possible, in the
spring especially, when it is of itself too weak to keep up the
necessary degree of heat for the hatching of the brood; and also, that
in our climate there are frequently storms of frost and snow at that
season, which are very prejudicial to it. If at that time the bees are
lodged in high and roomy hives, they will crowd together in vain to
procure the necessary degree of heat to vivify the brood-comb, which
is always deposited in the middle of the hive, and the heat ascending
is dissipated and lost in the empty space above. I have seen whole
combs full of eggs do no good, in consequence of the want of heat. This
never happens in the low, flat hives, where the heat is more easily
concentrated; here, as the young bees come to life, the heat augments,
and they assist in taking care of the others that are advancing, and
begin to spread out on all sides, and entirely to fill the hive: the
republic prospers, and increasing numbers are distinguished.
It is, perhaps, for this reason that bees thrive well in conical or
sugar-loaf shaped hives, which are common in some countries: but they
have this disadvantage, that _capes_ cannot be so easily fitted to
them, which facilitate the collecting of the finest honey, and of which
I shall treat presently.