On Sat, 9 Nov 1996, Joe Hemmens wrote:
 
> Dear Beekeepers
>
> I have a very interesting booklet by Robin Dartington called 'New
> Beekeeping in a Long Deep Hive'.  He describes the design and
> management of a hive based on 14" x 12" frames.
 
Joe, with tbh's there are, of course, bars only... no frames.
 
>
> However his management technique uses vertical supering which to my
> mind rather spoils the simplicity offered by long hives.
>
 
I agree.
 
> Root's ABC & XYZ is very dismissive of the notion of bees storing
> honey horizontally -
>
> 'They have the same fault (as top bar hives) in that bees do not care
> to expand their brood nests sideways;  it is natural for the pollen
> and honey to be above the brood and for the nest to move in an upward
> direction.'
 
It seems to help some colonies to "spread the brood" since they may become
honey bound.  Other colonies will go like gangbusters.  There may also be
differences in the strains of A. mellifera...I'm going to try some
Caucasians next year for comparision with the Italians.
 
> And -
>
> '...but in practice colonies in such hives never build large populations
> or store too much honey'.
 
Some hives will build huge populations...become "meat" colonies for
splitting and boosting.  Just wish that I didn't have to put up with mites
and their effects on the bees...then I'd get a better idea of what they
can do, unfettered, in a tbh.  Never had any problem with any hive of any
type 'storing too much honey' :)  Seriously, I am willing to get less
honey and more beeswax.
 
> I would like to try a long hive but I have been dissuaded by such
> comments.  Is it possible to obtain good crops from horizontal hives
> (without vertical supering)?
 
Joe, give me next year to give you a better answer on this question...if I
can keep the mites at bay...if the spring weather is good...if
overwintering goes well...if the poplar trees bloom...if there isn't too
much rain...   Gee, I sound like a farmer!
 
Cordially yours,
 
Jim
 
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  |  James D. Satterfield        |  E-Mail: [log in to unmask]       |
  |                              --------------------------------
  |  258 Ridge Pine Drive         Canton is about 40 mi/64 km   |
  |  Canton, GA 30114, USA        north of Atlanta, Georgia USA |
  |  Telephone (770) 479-4784                                   |
  ---------------------------------------------------------------