364 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



tini^ them over again. All the posts but five were reset, and a 

 number of them are now standing, and are tolerably sound timber. 

 The trees of which the posts were made were of the hackmatack 

 timber, and from logs near the top of the trees. They were cut 

 down in the month of Augnst and seasoned thoroughly before 

 being set. The posts were set in sandy land, where timber com- 

 monly rots quick. I have set much better posts cut in the winter, 

 that have not lasted over five years." 



Management of Bees. 



Mr. ^I. Qiiimby, St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, N. Y. — 

 Reuben Ragan says he "tried every description of patent hive,' 

 and has now "fallen back on the old-fashioned box, with a slight 

 improvement." Said improvement, I suppose, consists in cutting 

 the board which forms the top of the lower part of the hive a little 

 short, so as to allow passage at each end for the bees into the 

 honey-boxes in the chamber, which he has "found altogether pre- 

 ferable to augur-holes." I object to this teaching as orthodox, 

 unless he can show cause why it is better, whether he has proved 

 it better in one or a hundred experiments. I have no objection 

 to an augur-hole, or to a square, or other shaped hole, providing 

 it is in the right place, and not too large. I think if Mr. R. would 

 experiment closely, he would find the shape of no consequence- 

 He would also find that his passage at the side would be prefer- 

 able nearer the middle. He would learn that, however well his 

 bees may have done, that they would have done better, had he 

 managed properly. 



It is well demonstrated, that whenever a colony of Jjces are 

 forced into another apartment for room to store honey, they lose 

 a little time, and the more convenient the passage-way, the less 

 time. If it were not for the queen going to the surplus boxes, and 

 using part of the combs for food, it would be policy to open a 

 passage six or eight inches square directly over the main body of 

 the hive. We should get more honey, often several pounds, while 

 if they had to go to the side for a passage there would not be any. 



The following is the result of teaching without experience. He 

 says: "If the season is favorable, and the swarms come early, 

 they may be robbed on or about the 1st of July. If the season is 

 not good, present year swai-ms should not be robljed. Older 

 swarms may be robbed about the same time, but not later." Xow 

 my advice to any one that follows this teaching, is to get rid of the 



