3. Glass.—A representation of this same hive in glass, with its super, is given inside the opened cover figured on page 177. Nothing need be added here, as the construction is the same with that of the wood hive. See the description of the Woodbury glass hive in the previous section for general remarks upon hives of that material.
This is a simpler and less expensive hive than the one just described, being without windows or a dummy, and with wooden crown and floor boards. In other respects it is the same, and is thus suitable for persons with small means, or who may wish to purchase in large numbers. Almost any kind of super may be adjusted to this hive, but those specially adapted are the frame super and our divisional and sectional supers, for all of which see the article on "Supers" (Chap. IV. § vi.). To admit of their addition the crown-board must be removed, and a zinc adapter with queen-preventing openings substituted.
Our frame hives hitherto described have facilities for extracting the movable combs at the roof of the hive; with the present one the frames are drawn out at the sides as well as above. This is manifestly a great convenience, as it obviates the necessity of removing the supers when an examination of the combs is required to be made in the midst of the working season. The hive, cover, and stand are all in one, and the side-flap falls down, as it does in the cover shown on page 175, and the loose glazed side, by removal, serves as a dummy, allowing each comb to be withdrawn without risk of scraping the next. The cover, it will be seen, opens at one side, as does the stock hive. The floor-board draws out on the plan adopted by Mr. Cheshire.
There is a straw crown-board with a feeding-hole, which in summer is replaced by a queen-preventing zinc adapter perforated all over with circular holes too narrow to admit the queen or drones. The whole space over the frames is then covered with our small sectional supers (Chap. IV. § vi.), which, by means of the numerous perforations, are completely seasoned to the bees' taste with the same scent as the hive itself. The hive with its cover is complete without any further protection from the weather, and it carries its own stand. It was very highly commended at the Alexandra Palace Bee Show.
In its general principles and inner structure this hive differs very little from the one last described, with which in outward appearance it is still more closely identical; but the walls of the stock hive, when made of wood (for they can also be had in straw, if the apiarian so prefers) are constructed double, with an airspace between, with a view to modifying the variations of temperature. The upper part of the outer woodwork is a cover to the supers, and opens on a hinge at one side. Within are two of Lee's bar supers, placed one upon the other, the upper of which is to be first supplied, and the other added from beneath when the first is partly filled.
The stock hive usually contains eleven of the regular-sized Woodbury frames, besides the dummy. Admission is given to the super by means of slits in the sides of two of the five planks constituting the crown-board, and when the super is away these two can be shifted to the ends, when the slits will come outside the hive. The entrance-hole is ten inches in length, but is provided with shutters for narrowing or closing it. The alighting-board in front of the entrance is grooved in order to let off wet or moisture. The entire floor-board draws out to allow of cleaning.
Mr. Abbott's new hive is distinguished for the large size of its frames, which are sixteen inches long by ten deep. There are eight of them, besides two dummies. The honey-board is in three portions, with a round hole in the centre for feeding, and two slits for giving admission to the supers, which are Lee's. This divided crown-board rests close upon the bars of the frames, and a quilt should be placed over it in winter. The stock hive is of straw, and carries its own cover and stand. Its dimensions are two feet wide and three high.
Mr. Abbott has previously constructed some cheaper hives, but cheapness was made too exclusively their object to allow of their becoming sufficiently serviceable to be recommended.
The Stewarton hive (also called the Ayrshire hive) is so often spoken of, and in such favourable terms, by bee-keepers, that we deem it necessary to give it a place here, and to supply some explanation of its construction and management. We consider this especially needful, as some of the principles of its management are so imperfectly understood that many mistakes are made, and also because, for the convenience of bee-keepers, we keep a supply of these hives on hand.
The name is derived from their having been first brought out at Stewarton, in Scotland; and they are still made so well, and at so moderate a price, in that country, that London workmen are unable to compete in their manufacture. Our supply is therefore from that source; so that, with a little addition for carriage, the price approximates that of the makers themselves, affording a convenience to many of our apiarian friends in being able to obtain these hives in London.
Our illustration shows the four boxes set up when the hive is complete. We will suppose that the beginner has just received the four octagonal boxes detached, with the bundles of grooved slides. About one-half of these are short pieces, or pegs, termed sectional slides, but similarly cut to the longer ones; these are to fill up the openings where the full slides are not put in, or are required to be withdrawn, as hereafter explained. He will find himself in possession of four boxes so neatly dovetailed on the bevel, that, if he be of a mechanical turn, he will not only be surprised at the way in which they are put together, but also at the price for which they are offered. Three of the boxes, A, B, C, technically called "body boxes," are precisely similar, each being fourteen inches in diameter and five inches and a half deep inside. Nine bars range along the top of each box. These are not movable, but are designed to induce the regular building of the combs. Between these and beyond the outer ones are ten narrow slides, the slides and bars being grooved to fit into each other, so that the top is completely covered as if with a crown-board. In the figure the slides are shown as partly withdrawn. The fourth box, D, is the depriving box or super; it is only four inches deep, but the same in diameter as the others. This being the honey-box, it is furnished with seven wide fixed bars instead of nine, because, as stated at page 183, bees construct deeper receptacles to contain the honey than for breeding in: thus, should the queen go up into this compartment, she may find the cells are too much elongated to enable her to reach the base when her body is inserted for the purpose of depositing an egg. The honey is thus kept pure, and the thick comb has a more massive, richer appearance, and that which not unfrequently mars the quality of a super—viz., cells that either contain brood or have been bred in—is prevented. Each box is furnished with two small windows, back and front, closed by sliding shutters, by which opportunity is afforded for inspecting the progress made, and also for ascertaining when the cells are filled and the box may be taken away.
Each of the boxes A, B, C, is furnished with an entrance-way four inches wide and half an inch high, a wooden slide either wholly or partially closing it as required. When at work the bees need only one entrance open, and that at the lowest box. The long slides before mentioned are pushed into their respective receptacles from the back of the hive to close the openings between the bars; those of them that are shorter will be seen to belong to the sides of the octagon, and their ends are cut angular to suit the form of the box. A little examination will suffice to show the right allotment of the slides, the appropriation of which may be said somewhat to resemble the putting together of a child's puzzle.
The box B must be left open at the interstices that correspond with the box A, placed above, the little openings being closed by the insertion of the ten sections of slides, thus leaving free communication inside with the upper box A, and admitting of no outlet for the bees except at the entrance. When the four boxes are placed above each other, the structure measures twenty-two inches high.
The Scotch carpenters send no floor-board, and no covering or roof for the top to shoot off the rain; they evidently expect that the purchaser is provided with a shed or bee-house of some kind, and also with a floor-board. Should the apiarian, however, not have these necessaries, we can supply the deficiency.
The sides of the boxes are furnished with wooden buttons, which, when turned round, keep each box exactly in its place one above the other; there are also projecting irons or screw heads for tying the two boxes A and B together preparatory to hiving the swarm, also for weighing; or if the boxes stand out exposed, all may be thus secured, to prevent their being blown over by high winds.
In putting the hive into use, take the two boxes A and B, made one by the junction before mentioned, with complete access from one to the other inside by the free communication afforded. Shake the swarm in just as with a common cottage hive.
If the weather be favourable these two boxes will be nearly filled in ten days. To get the full advantage of the Stewarton hive the first year, put two swarms into two body boxes, A and B. Allow the bees to remain there till they have nearly filled the body boxes with comb, which (with this increased number of workers, and in favourable weather) should be from five to ten days. Two swarms are seldom procurable the same day so as then to be joined together, and even if they were there is a doubt whether greater progress may not be attained by hiving one swarm a week or so earlier than the other, so as to build comb and raise brood ready for the reception of the new comers.
The second swarm should be hived in the third body box, C, and placed close to the boxes A, B, and at dusk these last are placed on the top of the box C. The entrance being open in the lowest box, that of the central box, B, should now be closed with the slide. The top slides of box C must be withdrawn and the interstices pegged with the sectional slides. In the course of the night the second swarm will ascend and join the other, thus becoming one family. In the morning one of the queens will probably be found thrown out in front.
The box C is then to be removed, and the entrance slide of box B withdrawn. Should all the bees not have ascended, the removal may be deferred until later in the day when many of them are dispersed gathering honey. The object of removing the box C is to restrict the room so that the work of comb-building may be carried on more rapidly, and the bees be sooner ready to work in the super box D, placed above. They may be allured into this by fixing small pieces of worker guide-comb, of pure white colour, on the centre of each side bar. If, however, a box of honey with neatly made, straight, and quite regular comb be desired, a piece of this guide-comb must be fixed to the centre of each bar of the seven. If guide-comb be unobtainable, strips of the impressed wax sheets or artificial comb (hereafter described) will be found excellent substitutes.[22]
[22] The body boxes may be prepared in a similar manner.
Having satisfied yourself, by peeping in at the windows, and from symptoms at the entrance, that the original boxes are well filled, place your prepared honey-box on the top, draw a slide at each side of the middle box to afford communication, and insert the little pegs. It is not well to withdraw the slides in the middle, because the queen is then far more likely to ascend. Bees may more readily be induced to work in the supers if the junctures are covered with gummed paper to preserve warmth. When you notice that the bees have fairly commenced work in the honey-box, and are likely to keep to it, a second and afterwards other supers may still be added, the new one being always placed uppermost; in all cases the remaining box C must be added below the stock, which will afford additional room and prevent swarming, exchanging the entrance to the newly-furnished box and sliding in pieces of wood to close the aperture of that above. Supers and nadirs may in fact be added—in fine seasons and with first-rate management—till there are eight or ten boxes in the pile.
Should the bees begin making comb in the bottom box, draw two more slides for freer access into the super, as there will then be little risk of the queen ascending, having so much range for egg-laying in the three lower boxes.
In very fine weather a good swarm or stock will fill a honey-box in the space of two weeks; but a much longer time is usually occupied. The process of taking the honey differs very little from that ordinarily followed in removing supers (Chap. V. § xiv.). The super box is disconnected with a spatula and twine; then drawing out one or two top slides, the bees are smoked or blown with bellows to cause them to make their exit.
Before winter sets in, the box C, if in use, may be removed, and the comb it contains (if well filled) be used for consumption; if the comb be empty, let it remain carefully guarded from moth and other insects, as it will be invaluable next season. Empty comb may be thus preserved by tying or pasting a piece of stout newspaper closely round the bottom, and keeping the box in a dry place. Feeding, when required, may be liberally pursued by withdrawing two slides and supplying a bottle or other feeder.
The chief value of the Stewarton supers consists in the boxes being shallow, so that the combs are more likely to be well filled down to the base; the bees will also commence work more readily in such than in loftier compartments. This is a great advantage with supers, particularly when required to be sent to a distance, as there is less likelihood of the combs breaking down. For the same reason, when the weather is hot and the rays of the sun fall on the hive, the combs might part from their foundations if there were no intermediate bars, which is now the case in the stock hive, composed as it is of two boxes. If these two boxes were in one, the depth of each comb would be twelve inches; and, when filled with brood and honey, would probably weigh ten pounds. This is a great weight to be supported in hot summer weather, when the wax is softened by the heat. Another distinguishing feature that the Stewarton hive possesses is the use of the box C, which, by giving increased room as the season advances, prevents what is often an annoyance to the apiarian, viz., a late swarm—too late to be of any value, and impoverishing the stock by a division of its numbers, thereby perhaps impeding the completion of the super. A further advantage of the box C is that it induces the bees (who frequently hang in clusters about the entrance) to carry on their work instead of remaining in enforced idleness.
An accomplished apiarian who writes much in the Horticultural and Bee Journals under the title of "A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper," and whose descriptions and management of the Stewarton hive render him an authority on this mode of bee-keeping as well as on the subject generally, says the only fault he has to find with the Stewarton hive is the fixity of the bars. With a modified hive used by him they are held in position with half-inch brass screws; thus all are movable, instead of being fastened with nails as in the original Stewarton. In each of the three body boxes are four bar-frames from end to end of the parallel sides; the two combs on either side of these are attached to movable bars, but these have no frames, as there would be a difficulty in making them to suit the angle. If it is requisite to withdraw the bars, they may be easily disconnected from the sides by passing down a knife. These boxes are one inch deeper than those of the ordinary Stewarton. We must say we do not consider that there is quite the same facility for extracting combs as with other movable comb hives described in these pages, but this may be an element of success—it possesses the opportunity without the facility. Many indiscreet bee-keepers are tempted to disturb their bees a great deal too much.
The writer had the pleasure of paying this gentleman a visit when in Scotland last autumn, and saw his apiary, also some remnants of the store of wonderful supers he took from his hives last summer—specimens indeed of good bee-keeping, and of the golden maxim worthy of all imitation, "Keep your stocks strong."
In outward form this hive is much like the first bar-frame hive introduced to English apiarians by Mr. Tegetmeier, who about eighteen years ago was secretary to a now defunct apiarian society the head-quarters of which were just outside London at Muswell Hill. This gentleman adapted the Stewarton slides to a square bar-frame hive, so that no crown-board was needed, just as is here provided by the ingenious Lanarkshire bee-keeper. One of Mr. Tegetmeier's hives may be seen at the Bethnal Green Museum of Science and Art. From some cause it did not come into very general use.
The stock hive we are now describing measures sixteen inches and three-quarters from front to rear, and seventeen and a quarter from side to side, within; the height is nine inches and a half, and it contains eleven frames and one division board or dummy. Each of the frames is fitted with a false bar, which is intended to be under the bar proper: by taking a frame and pressing this bar out, an arrangement will be found for enclosing and holding tightly fixed the impressed sheets of wax for guides. The ends of the frames rest in the front and back of the hive; the top edges of the latter being deeply grooved along their centres to reduce the bearing surfaces, so that there may be less danger of crushing a bee when the frames are placed in position. These are now kept apart, and the spaces between are closed by wooden slides as in the octagon Stewarton hive; thus the advantages claimed by Scotch apiarians are here to be found in a square bar-frame hive. The sides and lower ends of the frames have projections which touch and keep each other steady, so that the combs are not so liable to be pressed together.
The super is four inches deep and equal in diameter to the stock hive, and is furnished, like it, with false bars, which have slits for inserting those infallible guides, the impressed waxen sheets. These are surmounted with another row of movable bars with the Stewarton slides between as before explained.
The back of the hive has a circular revolving disc of wood of half thickness let into it, in which are three three-quarter inch holes covered with perforated zinc, so that ventilation may be given or not. The alighting-board is made to slide in and out in grooves beneath the floor-board, which arrangement is convenient for transit of the hive to the moors or anywhere else. The entrance is opened or closed by means of sliding shutters, one on each side.
Outside covering from the weather is needed, and this we are also in a position to provide. This is beyond doubt an ingenious useful hive, and how so much labour can be bestowed and yet the hive cost so little is a marvel.
The unicomb hive here represented has many advantages over similar hives as previously constructed. The illustration shows the interior divided into six compartments; these are six Woodbury frames. The inner sash opens, to admit of hanging up the frames on the notches prepared for them. The width of the hive between the glasses of the sashes is just sufficient to admit of one thickness of comb, with space on each side for the bees to pass and repass between the glass and the comb. Any one possessing a Woodbury box or straw frame hive can readily commence a unicomb, and as readily put the combs and bees back into the square hive again.
The outside shutters on each side are composed of Venetian blinds, admitting daylight, but obscuring the rays of the sun. There are two iron wheels, the one fixed to the bottom of the hive, the other to a stout board running along its entire length; on these two wheels the whole structure turns. In the centre of the floor-board there is an opening, with a passage-way running underneath, so that the bees' entrance is in no way affected by the position of the hive, which revolves to suit the convenience of visitors inspecting it. Should the queen, with her attendants, not be visible on one side, the other side of the comb can be brought into full view, and examined with the same facility as a picture, or as articles are inspected in a shop window. Thus the sovereign mother, the drones with their aimless movements, and the crowd of ever-busy workers, either building their combs or storing honey, may be always seen, as presenting a veritable tableau vivant.
Another improvement that we have made upon Mr. Woodbury's pattern is that of adapting to admit the frames and this has necessitated an increase in size. The outside dimensions are nearly three feet square and seven inches deep from back to front. Provision is made at top for feeding, and for working two small flat-top glasses for deprivation, which are protected by the weather-board. An alighting-board is placed at the centre, close under the entrance. The hive can, however, be placed indoors, when it must be adjusted to the window-sash like the indoor unicomb in the next section.
In the summer of 1863 we had ample proof of the success of this hive during its exhibition at the annual show of the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at Exeter. We selected six combs, and packed them in one of the square box Woodbury frame hives, and, on arrival at Exeter, placed them in the unicomb. That being fixed against the boarded side of a shed, we found the covered way a great convenience, and it answered remarkably well; the bees did not seem to be inconvenienced by having to travel through so long a passage. A glass covering admitted a full view of the little labourers as they crowded in, and the sight of them very much enhanced the interest of visitors examining the hive.
Since the time before mentioned we have exhibited bees at the meetings of the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at Bristol, and of the Royal Agricultural Society at Newcastle in 1864. On both occasions further proof was given that this hive admirably answers the purpose intended, and it afforded pleasure to many thousands of visitors. We also exhibited one of these hives in our collection at the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876, and in their certificate of award the jurors direct special attention to the unicomb hive with Venetian blinds as allowing the admission of light to the bees whilst the sun's direct rays are excluded.
The unicomb hive may be stocked in two ways. The bee-keeper may either select the comb upon which the queen is found, and put it into the hive, and so form an artificial swarm as directed under that heading (Chap. V. § vi.), or he may take six brood combs, and by that means stock the unicomb at once. The former plan is, perhaps, the more advisable, because new comb has to be built within the five frames; for in this case five empty frames must be put in. It is a better plan still if artificial combs are placed in each frame, so as to afford an interesting opportunity of watching the formation of the cells therein. The' combs are sure to be dark in colour when taken from a stock hive, and new combs, being whiter, have a better appearance in the hive. The comb upon which the queen was introduced may be taken away after the artificial swarm has made combs within some of the other five frames; when the queen is on one of the new combs, opportunity may easily be taken for opening the hive and removing the old dark comb, which, with the unhatched brood, may be deposited in any square hive that needs strengthening.
If the possessor of a square Woodbury frame hive wishes to start a strong unicomb colony, and does not object to appropriating the stock, he must take out of the Woodbury hive any six combs on the frames, and put the unicomb in its place so as to receive all the returning bees that happen to be abroad; the remaining combs can be inserted in any other frame hives in which there may be room. We have had this hive in operation, stocked in such manner, and found it to answer remarkably well. On a lawn, placed on a suitable ornamental stand, it formed a pleasing and instructive object.
In unicomb hives there is considerable difficulty in keeping the bees alive through the winter, but where the combs are removable, this can be avoided by the transfer recommended in Chap. V. § xx. In some degree to moderate the variations of temperature we have used treble glass with a space between each square; greater warmth is thus obtained, and the view is not intercepted. Opportunity should be taken for cleaning the unicomb hive when empty.
This hive is well adapted for those persons who are desirous of having the opportunity of closely examining the workmanship of the industrious and interesting inmates. It is particularly intended for a window recess or an indoor apiary, and will also be found an interesting addition to the greenhouse. Bees cease to appear disturbed when exposure to the light is continuous, and this discovery enables the bee-keeper to obtain a full inspection. The hive should be screened from the direct rays of the sun, which would worry the inmates, and be otherwise prejudicial. An aperture should be cut in the sash corresponding with the entrance to the hive, through which the bees may find egress and ingress, without being able to gain access to the apartment, as described under the "Ladies' Observatory Hive" (page 120). As the hive is now made to revolve on a wheel like the preceding, this passage must extend eighteen inches within the room to enable the revolution to be made clear of the window. The passage may be glazed over. The process of stocking is identical with that in the last section.
Although this hive is constructed of double glass, to keep up a more uniform degree of warmth, still, from the cold nature of that material, and the close contact into which the bees are brought with it, it is advisable to place flannel against it on the outside. Such precaution is found essential if the bees remain in this hive during winter, and very much adds to their comfort on cold nights at most periods of the year. In the daytime, in summer months, the hive being of double glass, the whole may be fully exposed to view, and if the temperature of the apartment in which it stands be kept up to 60 degrees, this extra care will not be needed.
At the annual International Exhibition of 1873, at South Kensington, we had two of these hives in full operation, an opening being made so that the bees had full access to the pasturage of the Horticultural and other gardens of the neighbourhood. Among the many visitors whose delight it was to watch the hidden working of the hives thus laid bare for inspection was His Grace the Duke of Sutherland, and he commissioned us to place one of these unicomb hives at the window of an anteroom adjoining his library at Stafford House, St. James's, which we accordingly did, the bees having an open flight over his own garden and St. James's Park, as the entrance faced that way. For a time this was an unfailing source of interest and gratification to His Grace and his visitors; but unfortunately a reverse came over the spirit of our dream. The hive was without the Venetian blinds, thus depending on the window-blind being carefully drawn down when the sun was shining. An oversight prevented this being attended to one day as usual: it was on the occasion of the visit of the Shah of Persia to Stafford House, when the servants were so much occupied that the secluded room which the bees were in was wholly neglected. The, consequence was that the rays of the burning June sun so distressed the bees that they hung out in clusters, the queen among them, at the outside entrance; the combs were at the same time melted, and fell from their foundations, and the brood was all ruined by heat '; in fact, the whole hive became a wreck. We managed after some trouble to save the bees, but His Grace was so disheartened by the catastrophe that, for fear of its repetition, though much to our disappointment, he declined re-stocking the hive.
At the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1855 we also exhibited a hive of this description in full working order. The bees left London on the 5th of July of that year, and were placed in the Exposition on the following morning. An entrance was made for them through the side of the building, as before explained. Our bees had no national antipathies, and they immediately sallied forth to their "fresh fields and pastures new" in the Champs Elysées, the gardens of the Tuileries, the Luxembourg, etc., whence they soon returned laden with luscious store from French flowers.
The Jurors of the Exposition awarded us a prize medal for beehives. A prize was also adjudged to us for the hive here described at the Crystal Palace Show in 1874; while a variation that we have made—consisting of four half-unicombs fixed cross-way like the sails of a windmill—obtained a like award at the Alexandra Palace Bee Show in 1876.
The unicomb observatory hive is one which might have been suggested by the lines of Evans:—