Page:Supplement to the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica - with preliminary dissertations on the history of the sciences - illustrated by engravings (IA gri 33125011196181).pdf/748

 which circumstances are of material consequence to the success of the operation. It is essential, that some of the larvæ should not have been hatched above three days before this attempt is made. The frames must then be gently separated at the middle of the hive, and two empty frames be introduced in the interval between the former; each of these new frames having a partition which closes them completely, so as to enable the two portions to be entirely separated without leaving any opening. The door of that portion, in which the queen happens to be at this time, may remain open; but the one belonging to the other part must be closed, so as to retain the bees that have no queen, prisoners for four-and-twenty hours, allowing still, however, sufficient circulation of air. After this interval of time, they appear to have forgotten their queen; at least they are no longer anxious to seek for her, but bestow all their solicitude in the education of the larvæ, so as to convert a certain number of them into queens to supply the loss they have sustained. This they accomplish in ten days or a fortnight after the operation. The two colonies are now perfectly distinct, and are never found afterwards to intermix.

Another advantage attending a hive of this construction consists in its enabling us to force the bees to produce a much greater quantity of wax than they would naturally do. The interval which separates the combs, when the bees have not been disturbed in their operations, is constantly the same, namely, about four times. Were they too distant, it is evident that the bees would be much dispersed, and unable to communicate their heat reciprocally, and the brood would not be preserved in a sufficient degree of warmth. Were the combs too close, on the contrary, the bees could not freely traverse the intervals, and the work of the hive would suffer. It is evident that we may avail ourselves of this instinct, and by separating farther asunder the combs that are already built, induce the bees either to extend the breadth of those they had begun, or to build others in the interval, if sufficient space be allowed them for this purpose. Thus, by interposing three empty frames, one between every alternate interval of the combs in a hive containing six combs, three additional combs, if the proper season be chosen, will be obtained at the end of a week; and if the weather continue favourable, the operation may be repeated, and the same number of additional combs procured the week after.

The principal obstacles to the general employment of M. Huber’s hives are the expence of constructing them, and the greater degree of attention which they perhaps require from the Cultivator. It has also been objected that the flatness of the roof was prejudicial, by allowing the moisture which exhales from the bees to collect at the top, and to fall in drops at different parts, to the great injury of the subjacent contents of the hive. Féburier proposes therefore the employment of frames in the form of a trapezium, so that the roof shall be considerably inclined to the horizon. He borrows this shape from Bosc, whose hive consists, however, only of two boxes joined together sideways, and separable in order to form artificial swarms. This was an improvement upon Gelieu’s hive, which was formed of two square boxes united laterally. Delator had recommended a still more simple form than that of Bosc, though less convenient, namely, that of a triangle resting on its base. Mr Ravenel’s hive consists of three square boxes instead of two; Mr Scrain’s is also made up of three boxes; but they are low and of great length, and are joined endwise: a communication being established between them by apertures made in the divisions which separate the boxes. It is now, however, well established, that partitions of any kind are detrimental to the prosperity of the colony. The same objection applies, though perhaps in an inferior degree, to the system of storied hives, or those which are divided into stories one above another. A great variety of the latter description, however, have been recommended by different Cultivators. In France they are known by the name of ruches en hausses. Mr Thorley’s improved hive, of which there is an account in the article, is of this class, and Mr Lombard’s ruche villageoise may also be referred to the same head, although it be of much simpler construction than any other compound hive. Mr Lombard’s hive is composed of two parts, a body, and a cover, forming together an elevation of from seventeen to twenty inches, on a uniform diameter of one foot; excepting the upper part, which ought to be convex. The body is formed of bands of straw, similar to that of the cottages in this country. At the top and bottom of the body is placed an exterior band, which forms a projecting border, on each end; the lower one giving the hive a firm station on its pedestal; the upper one contributing to secure the attachment of the cover, or allowing of another similar body being placed above the first, if such an addition should be deemed necessary. At the top of the body, and even with the upper band, is placed a flooring hoard, made of a light plank, ten inches in breadth in ail directions; and the four corners of which are sawed off in such a manner that the breadth along the diagonal measures one foot. This board is fixed by nails inserted in the upper double band, and entering a little into the front. The four openings that are left on the sides are necessary for the passage of the bees, and for the escape of the vapours which are exhaled from them in winter. A flat rod traverses the hive immediately under the board; and projecting from the two sides about on inch and a half, affords handles for lifting the hive, and facilitates the fastening of the cover, which has also a projecting rod, corresponding with that of the hive. At the bottom is an opening, two inches broad, and nine lines in height, for the ingress and egress of the bees. The cover is formed in the shape of a dome, with a vertical handle at the top, and a cross bar at the lower part, by the projecting ends of which it may be tied to the ends of the bar in the body; and which serves also as a support to the combs that are constructed in the cover. For the latter purpose, also, two other bars are placed crosswise, one above the other. All the hives, and all the bases of the covers, are to be made of one uniform diameter, in order that Rh