Bookshelf

Keeping bees in horizontal hives

A complete guide to apiculture

Georges de Layens, Gaston Bonnier

Translated by Mark Pettus, edited by Leo Sharashkin

£39 at beesfordevelopment.org

Bees producing ‘come-hither’ signal

Georges de Layens was a French botanist and apiculturalist. In 1897 he published the Cours complet d’apiculture describing his system of sustainable beekeeping, based on two main principles: using local bees, and keeping them in appropriate hives. At that time beekeeping in France was practiced using fixed comb hive - boxes made of wooden planks, or more commonly skeps woven from straw, and many styles of movable frame hives, some now long-forgotten. Layens recommended a style of movable frame hive that he described as gentle on the bees and on the beekeeper too. It is a horizontal hive, i.e. with all the frames at the same level, containing 20 large frames, each 13 inches (33 cm) wide and 16 inches (41 cm) deep. When completely filled, one frame can contain 4 Kg of honey. Having all the frames on the same level means that the beekeeper has easier access to all of the hive, and never has to lift heavy boxes of frames. In spring time the hives are filled with frames, and some of the frames containing honey are removed at autumn harvest.

A swarm hanging from a tree branch

Over 24 Chapters, Layens detailed every activity concerned with beekeeping, providing exact descriptions of what the beekeeper should be doing at each season, and how to cope with tricky situations that arise, for example ‘When a swarm is awkwardly situated’ and ‘A weak colony that has wintered well’. He describes precisely how he works with bees, but nevertheless, he advises that established beekeepers should disturb their bees as little as possible, and thus avoid the great dangers of robbing and foulbrood. All aspects of harvesting and processing honey and beeswax are described in detail, with for example his fail-safe procedure for making mead, and indeed recommending honey from fixed comb hives for this purpose, as it contains a little pollen to aid smooth fermentation. Layens describes also how to make vinegar, and cyser (cider ameliorated with honey), and highly recommends honey brandy too.

Beekeeper priming frames with pieces of comb

Layens design of hive and his easy beekeeping method proved popular in mainland Europe, especially in France and Spain, and his original book remains in print today. The book contains almost 250 charming drawings by many illustrators. It is amazing that de Layen’s book has not been published in English until now, and it is the effort of Dr Leo Sharashkin that has achieved this excellent new edition. Dr Sharashkin has been using Layens hives for many years and is now a proponent of Layens simple and sustainable methods. Dr Sharashkin is providing a Course with Bees for Development in the UK: see opposite for details.