130 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mar. 



would suggest, that the prices for these 

 sticks be about $3.25 per thousand, for the 

 small ones, neatly planed, and about double 

 the amount for the large ones. This will 

 make the four-box case, which it really is, 

 just $15. OU per thousand. We will now let 

 friend Deane tell how he uses these little 

 cases : — 



In answer to tho many calls for information in re- 

 gard to the new Dcane system for comb honcj', I 

 have taken this opportunity to arise and explain 

 throug'h your valuable journal. 



CASE ILLUbTKATIISG FRIEND DEANE'S SYSTEM. 



The arrang-ement, as shown above, is composed of 

 seven wide cases, holding four 'i}ixV.i, sections each, 

 and clamped together by means of two thin boards, 

 one on each side of the cases. It will be noticed 

 that there is a wire passing- around the screws in 

 ends of the boards, and that this wire has 3 small 

 wire loops around it ; now, by pushing these small 

 loops toward the screws, every thing is made so tight 

 that the wires sing like fiddle-strings. Tighten the 

 wires at e.ach end of the cases in the same manner, 

 and you can then handle the cases like a solid 

 box. By bringing the small loops to the center, 

 every thing is made loose, and any one case can be 

 lifted out without trouble. Place strips lii wide by 

 li inch thick all around the hive, and right on top of 

 the brood-frames, and then set this case right down 

 on the strips. Make all tight by means of these 

 strips, so no heat or bee can pass up from below, ex- 

 cept into the sections. When the bees g:et well to 

 work and you want to tier up, just raise the whole 

 combination, and place an empty one under it; but 

 be very careful to get the cases exactly over each 

 other so the bees can pass from one to the other. 

 The cases have no top-bar, and when they are 

 trussed up the sections are firm and solid, being the 

 same width the cases are. When used without sep- 

 arators, the whole thing can be sent to market just 

 as it comes from the hive, simply by placing thick 

 paper on bottom and top, and screwing a couple of 

 strips across the top and bottom and into the sides. 

 This arrangement of the new Deane system I use on 

 Simplicity and Star chaff hives, and it leaves about 

 % of an inch to spare on the sides of the Simplicity, 

 so you can use the regular body to slip over it, or it 

 can be used on any 10-frame Laugstroth hive, or the 

 principle can be applied to any movable-comb hive. 



THE HOOP-IRON WIDE FRAME. 



This device is made of hoop iron, and will hold two 

 of the above cases, as can be seen by the cut. 



Its use is to suspend the cases on each side of the 

 brood-chamber, and when the bees get well to work 

 in them, raise them to the upper story and put emp- 

 ty ones in their places. When the cases are used 

 tvithout separators, you must use a perforated metal 

 division-board on the sides of the cases in the body 

 of the hive. You can nail separators on the cases, 

 if you wish; but in that case they would not do to 

 send to market, as tke cost would be too great. 

 Trusting this system may prove of great value to the 

 readers of Gleanings, I remain,— C. H. Deane. 

 Mortonsville, Woodford Co., Ky., Dec. 38, 1881. 



Now, as we have considered the advan- 

 tages, it maybe well, before going into it too 

 strongly, to look at the other side. The plan 

 for drawing up the frames by sliding the 

 wires, is an old device, and, I believe, was 

 discarded, as being too mucli bother, and 

 also too frail. Those who have had experi- 

 ence in shipping, Ifnow how quickly such 

 devices are torn into bits ; and even when 

 handled in the apiary, by ordinary help, I 

 fear they would be ail the while ''• tumbling 

 to pieces." The case costs just about the 

 same as our combined shipping-case, and 

 does not have the observing-glass on each 

 side, either. Two objections present them- 

 selves to the hoop-iron frame. The one sent 

 us weighs nearly * lb., and, at the usual 

 price, 6 cents per lb. for hoop iron, the iron 

 alone costs more than we sell complete wide 

 frames for by the thousand. The other ob- 

 jection is the bottom-bar extending right 

 through between the upper and lower tier of 

 sections, separating them i inch further than 

 with the usual way. This latter objection 

 may be, perhaps, done away with ; but at 

 present I hardly know how. Now, after all 

 this, I still think friend Deane has made a 

 start in the right way, and that his system 

 will doubtless be adopted by many, and 

 probably greatly improved during the com- 

 ing season. 



l»^ATER FOR BEES IN \*INTER. 



FRIEND BOOMHOWER ONCE MORE. 



CHAPTER II. 



fN my letter to you which was published in Sept. 

 No., I stated that my bees were supplied with wa- 

 — ' ter during their confinement in winter, and that I 

 thought it was the main point of my success in 

 wintering, and that I would give my method of sup- 

 plying them with water while in the cellar. As soon 

 as Sept. Gleanings was sent out, I began to receive 

 postals and letters from bee-keepers from all over 

 the country, far and near, requesting me to give 

 them my plan of supplying bees with water, and my 

 method of getting 286 lbs. of white honey from one 

 colony of bees. As I was at the time in Vermont, 

 running one of A. E. Manum's apiaries and queen- 

 yards, and also at the same time giving almost daily 

 instruction by mail to my family in New York State 

 concerning the management of my apiary and affairs 

 there, it was beyond my ability to find time to write 

 to Gleanings, giving methods and plans. And al- 

 so after friend Doolittle thought that I was casting 

 shadows upon our old pioneer bee-keepers, I thought 

 that I would not write any more letters to 

 Gleanings or any other paper pertaining to bee 

 culture. But I guess friend D. thought perhaps I 



