1805 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



165 



would be the largest— more bees in a larger 

 hive, and a larger super; it would hit just as 

 often, and measurably harder. The eight- 

 frame hive, on account of its hindrance of 

 brood-rearing, defeats its own object— contrac- 

 tion— to gel a large force of bees early into the 

 super. 



If we admit that ten-frame hives give more 

 honey, then more brood must be produced. I 

 do not believe that more honey will be stored, 

 or more combs be built, simply because there is 

 vacant space; nor will the queen lay more eggs 

 simply because there is a large area of comb; 

 but the work done in the ten-frame hive may 

 exceed that done in eight frames because of 

 inadequacy of the eight: and because eight 

 combs of brood is enough for a colony it does 

 not follow that that number of combs in a hive 

 is suHHcient for all demands of that colony. 



It has been said, that one fact is worth a 

 bushel of theories. Theory tends to improve- 

 ment: facts stand still. Facts may lead us to 

 settle down upon a ten-frame hive as if it were 

 perfection itself; but theory may devise a hive 

 combining the best features of both the eight 

 and ten frame hives. 



If it is proposed to discuss the merits of hives 

 without alteration, then I say that the ten- 

 frame is best to breed up and retain winter 

 stores; but the eight-frame is cheaper, handier, 

 and will send a given number of bees into 

 the sections sooner. The retention of winter 

 stores may be preferable to farmers and others 

 who have several irons in the fire, and who 

 would starve the bees were it not left in the 

 hives; but the specialist is expected to look 

 after such things in order to enable him to per- 

 form other advantageous manipulations. The 

 eight-frame hive is the farmer's substitute for 

 contraction while he attends to a dairy or fruit- 

 ranch. Said bee-keeper wishes to apply con- 

 traction during the honey-flow, but does not 

 want to watch his bees closely during the rest 

 of the year. By his plans he may secure the 

 most profit from a certain amount of labor; 

 but more labor and more profit is what bee- 

 keepers are most in need of. When bee-keepers 

 discuss and adopt hives best suited for farmers 

 they had best consider the advisability of be- 

 coming farmers, for they must have missed 

 their calling. 



A large amount of honey in a hive causes the 

 colony to build up faster, and become stronger 

 thereby, because there are more combs of honev 

 to be mutilated by frost, moisture, or other con- 

 sequence, causing honey to be removed and 

 carried to the brood-nest. Again, where there 

 is much honey in the hive, that needed for 

 brood-rearing is brought from the most distant 

 points, and especially where it is liable to be 

 pilfered by robbers. Such manipulation of 

 honey is a constant stimulation. It is not pos- 

 sible for a colony to consume 30 or 40 lbs. of 

 stores in two months' time without being stim- 



ulated. Last spring I had colonies which 

 consumed 60 pounds of honey while others 

 survived on 10. In the small hives, where 

 there is only a small quantity of honey, and a 

 comb or two more are put in when the first is 

 all used up, the honey remains entirely within 

 the guard-lines, and there is very little manipu- 

 lation of honey, and, consequently, no stimula- 

 tion. Last year the lower hives in my apiary 

 were about half filled with winter stores (I use 

 the crosswise L., ten frames in a hive). Then 

 a super of half-depth frames was put on, which 

 were filled up and capped nicely. For brood- 

 rearing the month of January in my location 

 corresponds to the month of May in Iowa or 

 Illinois. They began to rear brood the fore 

 part of the month, and have taken honey from 

 the ends and corners of those super combs, so 

 that they are not more than half full. Some 

 hives have six combs of brood, flying drones, 

 and young bees by the peck. The larger the 

 size of the frames adopted, and the more in 

 number, the more of this stimulation; especial- 

 ly when the colonies are weak or starting 

 to breed. It is my belief that a brood-nest can 

 not be honey-bound in the spring — only in the 

 fall, when there should be bees reared for win- 

 tering. These super combs are the same size 

 as single-tier wide frames; and when it is sur- 

 plus time I will take out the super combs and 

 put in the wide framesof sections in their stead, 

 so quietly that the bees will hardly dream of 

 what has happened. The combs taken out will 

 be tiered up on colonies which will be run for 

 extracted honey. Habit of clustering in the 

 super is expected to make the bees remain 

 there after the sections are put in. Then I will 

 shut down on the storage of honey in sections 

 soon enough to return the combs to be filled 

 with winter stores. Thus the sections will be 

 all completed. It is my opinion that a better 

 hive might be devised by combining certain 

 principles present in both the ten and eight, 

 frame hives. How and what to combine is the 

 question. 

 Florence, Cal., Feb. 5. 



[You say it is a mooted question which is 

 foremost — chaff or the space filled with dead air. 

 Perhaps you do not remember the time when 

 I tried to believe that dead air was just as good, 

 and called for testimony to get at the truth. It 

 came in so thick and fast in favor of chaff, or, 

 rather, filling of some sort, that I think all of 

 us were satisfied that dead air was not nearly 

 as good. Dead air is all right providing you 

 can get it in a space or compartment that is air- 

 tight. But this is impracticable; therefore, to 

 prevent the rapid circulation, and the air es- 

 caping, it seems necessary to have obstructions 

 in the way of filling, and thus prevent the too 

 rapid escape of the warm air next to the bees. 



You say the eiglit-frame will send a given 

 number of bees into the sections sooner. You 

 are probably right; but would not six frames 

 send them there sooner yet? By the way, what 

 has becom of the idea of contraction, that we do 

 not hear of it nowadays? There was a time 

 when it was all the rage.— Ed.] 



