82 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



point ; but good authorities say that it 

 is true ; and if it is, then it would seem 

 that shade, in very hot weather, is both 

 desirable and profitable. We have noticed 

 that weak colonies, nuclei, for instance, 

 seldom make any demonstration of discom- 

 fort from heat, even when left unshaded, 

 while strong colonies will sometimes puff 

 and blow like the runner of a foot-race. 

 Why is this? Is it because the populous col- 

 ony is suffering from the accumulation of its 

 own heat — that generated by itself — that 

 cannot escape fast enough? If this be true, 

 why isn't a chaff hive the most insufferably 

 hot place imaginable for a colony of bees in 

 hot weather? We have never used chaff 

 hives, but those who have say that no shade 

 is needed, that the thick walls of chaff are a 

 sufficient protection against the sun. We 

 should think they would be, but what about 

 the internal heat, that is hindered in its es- 

 cape by the walls of chaff? We have never 

 heard that bees in chaff hives suffered from 

 the heat, as those in single-wall hives, stand- 

 ing in the sun sometimes do : or, at least, 

 are reported to. Possibly the point is just 

 here ; the bees in the chaff hives have to con- 

 tend with their own hef^t only, while those 

 in single-wall hives have that from the sun 

 in addition to their own. Let this be as it 

 may, we know that a colony can be kept the 

 coolest in a thin-wall hive surrounded by 

 shade. How do ive keep cool in hot weather? 

 We wear thin clothing, and lie in a hammock 

 in the shade. A colony of bees is a living, 

 heat-producing body, and can be kept cool 

 in the same manner that we keep our bodies 

 cool, viz., let its clothing (hive) be thin, 

 with a free circulation of air upon all sides, 

 above and below, and protect it from the 

 sun in the heat of the day. As we are discuss- 

 ing in this issue the management and con- 

 trol of increase, it may be well to mention 

 how well bee-keepers are agreed that the ab- 

 sence of shade hastens and encourages 

 swarming. The color of the hive has quite 

 a bearing upon the necessity for shade. 

 Black absorbs heat, while white reflects or 

 repels. We have seen the combs melt down 

 in an old, weather-beaten hive that stootl in 

 the sun ; we never knew conibs to melt in a 

 hive painted white ; and some assert that 

 there is no necessity for shading hives that 

 are painted white. There is little danger 

 of combs melting in white, unshaded hives, 

 but the great American question is, will it 

 pay to shade them? Shade is not needed in 



the spring, fall, morning or evening. The 

 only time that it is needed, if it is needed, is 

 in the middle of our hottest days ; and what we 

 wish decided is will it pay to shade them 

 then? If shade is needed, there is nothing 

 cheaper nor better than a light board 2x8 ft. 

 in size. We make them by nailing the 

 thick end of shingles to a piece of inch 

 board four inches wide and two feet long. 

 They cost five cents each, and in the fall we 

 tack them together and make packing boxes 

 for packing the bees. Formerly, we used 

 stones, or bricks, to keep the wind from 

 blowing the boards off the hives ; but we 

 now use nothing of the kind. It is less 

 work to pick up and replace the occasional 

 board that is blown off, than it is to handle 

 the weights so much. Some bee-keepers 

 shade their hives, others do not ; let's dis- 

 cuss this subject in the .June Review, and try 

 and decide, if we can, whether or not the 

 practice is necessary. 



LANGSTEOTH ON THE HONEY BEE, KEVISED 

 BY DADANT. 



Continued from April No. 

 Chapter V has for its heading, the "Hand- 

 ling of Bees." "A honey bee, when heavily 

 laden with honey, never volunteers an attack, 

 but acts solely upon the defensive." In ex- 

 planation of the fact that the bees of a swarm 

 are sometimes very aggressive, it is asserted 

 that, occasionally, "some improvident or un- 

 fortunate ones come forth without a suffi- 

 cient amount of the soothing supply, and are 

 filled with the bitterest hate against any one 

 daring to meddle with them." Be this as it 

 may, we know that a good smoking will 

 quell the spirit of hatred, filling the bees 

 with submission whether they are filled with 

 honey or not. — Our Authors see no advantage 

 in the use of Apifuge. — They have found 

 cold water the best remedy for a bee-sting. 

 They also mention the leaves of plantain, 

 crushed and applied, as a good substitute. 

 W^e have found the tincture of plantain, 

 made by soaking the leaves in alcohol, the 

 best remedy for bee stings. We seldom use 

 it upon ourselves, unless stung near the eye: 

 but when a child or visitor is stung, it is very 

 pleasant to be able to soon relieve the pain, 

 and prevent the swelling almost entirely. 

 Attention is called to the fact that, after be- 

 ing stung many times, the system becomes 

 inocculated witli the i)oison, and a sting has 

 but little effect. This is true, but we doubt 



