Bees When In The House Should Be Kept Perfectly Dark
Categories: WINTERING BEES.Bee Keeping: Mysteries Of Bee-keeping Explained
When not kept perfectly dark, a few would leave the hives in either
case. I have found it much better to make the room dark to keep the
bees in the hive, than to tie over them a thin muslin cloth, as that
prevents a free passage of the vapor, and a great number of full stocks
were not at all satisfied in confinement; and were continually
worrying, and biting at the cloth, till they had made several holes
through it for
evil, as an offset. Even wire cloth put over to confine them, which
would be effectual, would not save bees enough to pay expense. I have
thus wintered them for the last ten years, and am extremely doubtful if
a better way can be found.[17] For several years I made use of a small
bed-room in the house, made perfectly dark, in which I put about 100
stocks. It was lathed and plastered, and no air admitted, except what
might come through the floor. It was single, and laid rather close,
though not matched.
[17] I was so well pleased with my success, especially with small
families, that I detailed the most important points in a
communication to the Dollar Newspaper, Philadelphia, published
November, 1848.
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An Experiment
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But for some of the birds accused of preying upon bees, I would say a word. ... Are Not Bees An Advantage To Vegetation?
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When not kept perfectly dark, a few would leave the hives in either case. I have found it much better to make the room dark to keep the bees in the hive, than to tie over them a thin muslin cloth, as that prevents a free passage of the vapor, and a ... Best Conveyance
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