. American bee journal. Bee culture; Bees. THB fElMERICKrf BE® ja^RNJEILr. G49 IX'liiter-PaBiiageB n Brood-Combs. These enable the bees to pass from comb to comb without having to pass under them or around the sides, and the desirability of such passages will be better understood when it is remem- bered that the lower part of the tiive is colder than the upper. The bees clus- ter on the combs in a ball-shape, for instance, the center combs have the largest number of bees, and the outside combs the least of any. The size of this cluster depends upon the tempera- ture of the hive, and the higher
. American bee journal. Bee culture; Bees. THB fElMERICKrf BE® ja^RNJEILr. G49 IX'liiter-PaBiiageB n Brood-Combs. These enable the bees to pass from comb to comb without having to pass under them or around the sides, and the desirability of such passages will be better understood when it is remem- bered that the lower part of the tiive is colder than the upper. The bees clus- ter on the combs in a ball-shape, for instance, the center combs have the largest number of bees, and the outside combs the least of any. The size of this cluster depends upon the tempera- ture of the hive, and the higher the temperature the more the bees spread over the frames ; the colder, the more compactly they cluster. Then as they cluster in a ball shape, when the clus- ter contracts they can contract on each comb, but not towards the center of the cluster unless they go down or out- side and pass around the comb, which is a movement just opposite to the nat- ural, and those on the outside combs become isolated and perish. If there was a passage through each comb, ?where the center of the cluster on the comb would be, the bees could pass through and join the cluster on the other side. Tlie best position for the passage would be in the center of the upper two-thirds of the comb, above rather than below. There are many contrivances for cut- ting or punching these holes. Perhaps the best is a cone-shaped piece of tin, growing in diameter, as it recedes from the cutting end. This can cut a round hole through the comb, allowing the piece of comb removed to slide out on the wide end of the cone. Another plan resorted to is, to lay a bridge over the top boxes. This bridge is con- structed simply of sticks, so made as to allow the bees to pass from comb to over the top boxes. If you winter your bees outside, it is particularly desirable to make these passages for the bees. In a warm cellar it is less necessary. Old and Worn-Out Queens. Many colonies perish in winter or early spring because their
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectbees, bookyear1861
