CONSTRUCTIVE BEEKEEPING 41 



(poor insulation) to contend with, they exert energy, and the 

 consequent consumption of stores, to supply the loss. 



The more insulation and the greater the number of bees in 

 the hive, the more the temperature of the hive air lags behind as 

 the outside temperature changes. The hive vapor under these 

 conditions moves out slowly and does not saturate the hive air). 



When a colony of bees cluster they create for themselves a 

 hive within a hive. The insulation of the cluster hive is the 

 bodies of the bees on the outside of the cluster, and the colder 

 the hive air the better they make this insulation. 



Let us now indulge in a little speculation. It is an estab- 

 lished fact that the heat of the inside of the cluster increases as 

 the hive temperature falls and vice versa. The honey stores are 

 mostly outside of the cluster and exposed to the vapor of the 

 hive. We know that the bees have ways of controling the vapor 

 of the hive in summer. May it not be possible that the rise in 

 temperature of the cluster is for the purpose of increasing the lag 

 in temperature? This may mean a great deal to them by pro- 

 tecting their honey from moisture. 



ABSORBENT CUSHIONS 



As understood by beekeepers any porous material placed be- 

 tween the cover and frames for insulation is an absorbent bush- 

 ion. 'Claim is made that moisture escapes through this cushion. 

 Sometimes the moisture has tried to escape this way and in the 

 spring the cushion is wet. Sometimes the cushion does not fit 

 snug against the super and an opening is left which gives upward 

 ventilation. Moisture here travels in the path of least resistance 

 and posses off through the largest opening it can find. If a close 

 examination is made in the winter frost will be found where the 

 moisture is passing out and the cushion found dry. Sometimes 

 the cushions are found dry where the burlap is laid across the 

 top of the hive and the super set on this and filled with padkiner. 

 If this burlap is examined a great deal of propolis is found on' it, 

 put there by the bees to prevent upward ventilation. Sometimes 

 this cushion is found dry because the inside of the hive is well 



