Bees for Development Journal 69 LETTERS Letters Bern/lord C/ouss from Germany writes: I am enjoying the top-bar hive articles by Pam Gregory (BfDJ 66 onwards). It is some time since we had a good debate on top-bar hive beekeeping, so Pom's series is welcome, as it will trigger fruitful exchange. Here are my thoughts. What is meant by 'better beekeeping'? Does it mean that keeping bees in top-bar hives is more profitable than with other hive types, whether fixed-comb or movable-comb? As Pam indicates: any hive type can be good or even the best possible under given local conditions. In other words: there is no hive type that can be called 'primitive', 'modern1 or 'outdated'. A local technology and management can be good and successful if adapted to local conditions, beekeepers' opportunities and limitations. Intensive observation and intimate knowledge of materials and natural resources are just as important as innovative ideas to improve equipment and methods. A good bark hive beekeeper in the Zambian miombo woodlands is self-confident in the management of colonies: is a keen observer and knows about the ups and downs of flowering seasons and related swarming and occupation rates; knows about colony development and behaviour; and is flexible in response. Attending to colonies in daylight makes it possible to handle them in a gentle (non-aggressive!) way. Beekeepers smoke and crop selectively to achieve good quality honey, and avoid overcropping. Eventually the work is finished with some hive maintenance and pest control measures. These elements of good colony management are essential also for keeping bees happy inside movable-comb hives, and for better results. UNIQUE LABELS www.thorne.co.uk Beekeeping with movable-comb hives can be better than with fixed-comb hives However, the success is based on a more complex management. This means that frame and top-bar hive beekeepers need Thorough training by experts to fully exploit the advantages of the systems. An untrained owner of a frame hive will gain less profit than an untrained owner of a top-bar hive. This is because the top-bar hive Is a less expensive and simplified version of the frame hive system, and designed nearly a hundred years after Dadant or Langstroth hives. Major objectives of top-bar hives: - to reduce the costs of hive construction, - to 'slimline' frame hive management, - to use less expensive, simpler equipment, - to make bee handling easier - especially with African honeybees, - to encourage and increase wax W production. Beekeeping in top-bar hives can be better if the beekeeper follows five essentials: 1. Accurate measurement of top-bar width. 2. Consistent application and maintenance of starter strips on top-bars, 3. Minimum internal hive measurements and top-bar expansion, 4. Accurate measurement of entrance holes, 5. Consistent control of natural enemies, especially ants. I will now focus on the requirements of African honeybees with regard to these five essentials. 1. In addition to what Pam mentioned about 'bee space1 32 mm is the absolute minimum width for a top-bar - but bees will tolerate 1-2 mm more. I therefore suggest to instruct a carpenter to cut an exact width of 33 mm. Pam gave an excellent example of using 9 V batteries as a measuring tool to give 32 mm. Add a pencil line and you have 33 mm. You are then on the safe side in case the JJL carpenter deviates by a millimetre in one direction or anothc^ Give the carpenter a sample or any object with the correct measurement that must be used consistently. Top-bars with the wrong measurements should be rejected NB: Propolis between the top-bars has to be constantly scraped away so that the required measurements can be retained. (See illustration overleaf) TOP-CLASS TRAINING Bees for Development's Course Beekeeping in Rural Development tor people who need to know more about beekeeping and its special place in rural development Two weeks of lectures at the University of Sheffield, UK followed by two weeks of practical experience with tropical bees in Tanzania at Njiro Wildlife Research Centre, Serengeti Wildlife Research Institute Cost: Approximately £4000. Included are all tuition fees, course materials, bed, breakfast and evening meal in Sheffield and Tanzania, travel from the UK to Tanzania and back to the UK. Next Course: Please request a booking form for the dates - contact address on page 2. The information will also be available on our website. Venue subject to confirmation.