Horizonta: Beekeeping Part II

摘要

In regular Langstroth beekeeping, the Winter check involves tipping the hive forward to gauge its weight, not possible in horizontal beekeeping. We have the next better thing, we can actually look at the bars or frames and see how much honey or bee bread is left. One of the cool things about horizontal beekeeping is the ability to open the hive and rearrange things even when it is really cold out. In a top bar hive, the bars themselves create a solid roof over the bees, making it possible to work without disturbing the cluster. In a long Langstroth hive, something else needs to be used to create an inner cover over the bees. A piece of burlap, placed over the frames in late Summer, and then propolized by the bees, creates an antibacterial roof.