BEE-L Archives

Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

BEE-L@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Aaron Morris <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 7 Feb 2000 07:09:42 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (22 lines)
> ... I would like to know the exact bee space inbetween the glass and the
> first set of frames as to reduce the burr comb on the glass?

Rev. L.L. Langstroth discovered that bee space is 3/8 inch regardless of
where it is applied.  Langstroth is credited with inventing the movable
frame beehive, based on the bee space observation.  His original intent was
to figure out a way to keep bees from glueing down the tops of their hives,
and he serendipitously discovered that bees reserve a 3/8 inch space for
their own passage.  From this observation he extrapolated that the same
concept could be applied throughtout a hive designed with frames to hold the
combs.  This idea came to him in November, and he spent that entire winter
in heightened anticipation of the opportunity to test his theory in the
field!  The following spring and summer, his idea proved to be workable and
the rest is history.

Actually, there's lots more to the history including copyright failures and
infringements, bad poltitcs right from the very beginning of modern
beekeeping, Langstroth's battles with depression and more.  Makes for
fascinating reading.

Aaron Morris - thinking there's nothing like a good book in the off season!

ATOM RSS1 RSS2