72 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



mwi embody requisites, which, with 

 p.oper management, will prevent a 

 development of these factors. 



ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A NON-SWARM- 

 ING HIVE. 



The essential feature embodied in 

 the construction of my hive, is an ar- 

 rangement whereby ihe brood combs 



during the 12 years which have fol- 

 lowed. I now arrange the comb frames 

 with slatted dummies between them, 

 and on both sides and ends of the hive, 

 which includes a new frame. While I 

 have used slatted dummies at the sides 

 for four 3'ears, the new frame was first 

 made with the view of rapid handling, 

 and to prevent the killing <jf beesthere- 



Top View of Brood Nest, Showing Upper Edges of 

 Slatted Dummies, 



may be separated, or spread, covering 

 a greater area. It is an established 

 fact that any amount of box or surplus 

 room will but partially overcome a 

 crowded condition of the brood nest. 



The introduction of slatted frames, 

 or dummies, previous to the swarming 

 saason, I have found to be the great 

 essential in overcoming the crowded 

 condition; thus retarding the swarming 

 impulse. This plan has been the basic 

 or foundation principle of all my ex- 

 periments since 1893. The thickness, 

 size, and number of these slatted 

 frames have been wonderfully changed 



by. By reference to the accompanying 

 illustration, a slatted extension at each 

 end of the frame will be seen. As 

 already stated, through the tendency 

 of bees to crowd the lirood nest, the 

 slatted portion, although tilled with 

 them upon opening the hive and remov- 

 ing the frames, will almost instantly 

 become free for closing, b^' their move- 

 ment towards the combs. It is evident 

 that a sufficient distance of slatted 

 space between the combs and end-bars 

 may be employed which would extend 

 entirely beyond the reach of the strong- 

 est colony during the warmest weather. 



