CHAPTER IV.
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.