108 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



readily be placed one above another without bee-spaces between them, 

 and yet without crushing; bees. I want them so they could be easilj 

 furnished with foundation for the combs but I would not care to have 

 the combs movable. In the absence of this we have as the nearest ap- 

 proach to it the Heddon hive with sections approaching six inches in 

 depth. The sections have bee-spaces but the spaces are not undesirable 

 when the sections are of that depth. As each section of this hive has 

 the capacity of five L. frames it answers excellently for the purposes of 

 contraction but for most colonies previous to the period of contraction, 

 one section is too small, and two are too large to satisfy me fully. I am 

 sometimes inclined to think that if a portion of the sections were of 

 the depth of about three inches they could be combined with the others 

 in a more satisfactory way. 



AAlthout entering into further details I have sufficiently indicated 

 the characteristics which I think the hive to be adopted should possess 

 so let it sutfice to say that either of the hives indicated will answer 

 equally well, with any other, all the other legitimate ends of the apiarist. 



THE ASPINWALL NON-SWARMING HIVE. 



I have now used two of these hives in my apiary for the past two sea- 

 sons, and yet the results so far as determining the true value of the 

 non-swarming quality is concerned, are thus far negative. While other 

 non-swarming devices that' I have subjected to practical use have proved 

 rather provocative of swarming than otherwise, this one has, at least, 

 not failed to that extent, for, as yet, no swarm has issued from it 

 Whether this result is to be ascribed to the virtue of the device itself^ 

 or to other circumstances, requires further use under other conditions 

 for full determination. 



The hive is a marvel of ingenuity throughout. The frames are of 

 L. size, with closed ends, and, are held compactly together by a screw 

 which works against a movable side. By the use of blocks to reinforce 

 this movable side the size of the brood chamber is made elastic to a con- 

 siderable extent. The provision made for ventilation is unique, and very 

 effective, which no doubt renders material assistance to the main device 

 for preventing swarming. The hive itself is a frame rather than a box, 

 and has the bottom and only one end and one side fixed, the other side 

 being movable as already explained, and the closed ends of the frames- 

 supplying the other end. The cover is a cap or box open underneath only, 

 of sufficient dimensions to inclose two ordinary section cases when ad- 

 justed to the hive. 



I make no attempt to describe, nor even to mention, the many fine 

 points of the hive. In my estimation as now made it is too heavy, but I 

 speak with reference to my own methods. I cannot tolerate a hive which 

 a single able-bodied individual cannot pick up and carry to the cellar or to 

 any part of the a])iary without much discomfort, even when it is abund- 

 antly supplied with winter stores. This hive is not constructed with a 

 view to portability. To one whose methods do not require this quality, 

 this, of itself, would be no great objection, but there are other features of 

 the hive which can scarcely fail to prove themselves inconvenient to 

 every one who makes use of it. Under this head comes first, its bulk^. 



