Robert "Bert" Orlando Beater Manley (1888-1978) was a British Beekeeper, an authority on commercial honey farming and developer of the popular Manley moveable frame hives and frame systems.[1]
| Robert Orlando Beater Manley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1888 |
| Died | 1978 |
| Pen name | R.O.B. Manley |
| Occupation | Bee Keeper, Inventor, Author |
| Nationality | English |
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In 1914 a parasite, Acarapis woodi that originated on the Isle of Wight extended over the UK devastating all the native bees and only the Apis mellifera carnica and Apis mellifera ligustica colonies survived. Whilst Brother Adam travelled to Turkey to find substitutes for the native bees for the first Buckfast strain, (a very productive bee resistant to the parasite), R.O.B. Manley began breeding Italian bees and the pair quickly became the most influential bee-keepers in Britain, with Brother Adam concentrating on a breeding programme and Manley developing modern commercial honey farming methods.
In 1948 R.O.B. Manley became the first man to manage 1000 colonies in England,[2] having kept bees through the fine summers of the 20's and 30's.
As well as being the first man to manage 1000 colonies, inventing the Manley frame system (still in common use today), R.O.B. Manley is the source of the practise of feeding sugar to bees in its modern form, stating that "all hives that have been to the moors should be fed 10lb sugar as a precaution against dysentery caused by long confinement during severe winters". This advice is not found in earlier publications (A. Pettigrew 1870,[3] Rev Thomas WM Cowan 1881[4]). Manley adds that while heather honey was not suitable as winter food during periods of confinement, he 'knew of nothing better to encourage a rapid spring build-up'.
R.O.B Manley propagated the idea of using thymol in syrup intended for winter feeding in order to prevent fermentation and the growth of mould. Manley's thymol recipe has also proven useful in controlling Varroa mites.[5]
Manley's recipe has become a standard and even if the requirement is for a stronger solution, this is often specified as '3x Manley strength' or '4x Manley strength'.[6] His original recipe was one ounce of thymol crystals dissolved in five fluid ounces of surgical spirit to make the stock solution. Then half a fluid ounce of this mixture was added to 1 Cwt (112 lbs) of sugar, which he dissolved in 7 imperial gallons (8.75 US Gal.) of water for direct use as winter feed.[7]
Despite being the first man to have 1000 colonies in the UK and being one of the most revered commercial commercial beekeepers in Europe, R.O.B. 'Bert' Manley did not actually enjoy the taste of honey.
Faced with the problem of drips of honey running down the sides of jars, the 'production line' featured an ordinary vacuum cleaner to 'suck' the last drops away. Rumour has it that this was the domestic vacuum cleaner from the house and that Mrs Manley was entirely opposed to this, but this rumour appears to have been started by R.O.B. Manley himself, so may lack veracity and is included here rather more to provide an insight into the dry wit of this man.