Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The division board
The division board is a board the same size as the boxes with a rim around it. In the rim
is a small cut-out. This board is a very useful item that you can easily make yourself in
minutes and is used when you want to split a hive into two separate units, both with
an entrance. The bees in the lower half of the hive use the normal entrance and the
bees above the division board go in and out through the small cut-out in the rim. One
example of their use is to start off a two-queen hive to maximize honey production (this
is explained in Chapter 6).
This is a subject very dear to the beginner's heart - and mine! Whether you can tolerate
stings or not, it is never pleasant to feel a small gang of bees crawling down your back:
on the inside! You know exactly what's going to happen and, by the time you've
panicked and torn off your clothing, it's all too late. Bees crawling around on the inside
of your veil inches from your eyes and nose are particularly panic-inducing and, again,
they usually strike before you can sort the situation out. A sting on the end of, or up, the
nose or in the eye is very unpleasant. You can avoid these situations in two ways.
Buying a bee suit
Buy a decent bee suit, not one of those things with separate veils that have drawstrings
or that tuck into your top - bees always get in them. I started off with one and nearly
gave up because I was stung so much. Buy one with a hood that unzips and that can
be thrown back when you've finished. Most of these suits have hoops in the hood that
keep the veil away from your face and, if they don't, don't buy one. A good bee suit will
cost more, but it's an excellent investment and should last you for years - in comfort.
There are companies that sell excellent lightweight suits for hot countries, but beekeepers
with many colonies and commercial beekeepers need a tough suit. Beekeeping with lots
of colonies is, effectively, heavy labour, and light suits are torn easily - leading to bees
down your back and all the things that follow! I prefer a half suit - i.e. one that covers
just the top half of me, like a zip-up jacket with a hood. I prefer it because it is more
