1895 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



549 



the super according to theory. I think the 

 reason was because the sections were too large 

 for that kind of brood-chamber. I would say, 

 if each section of a horizontally divisible brood- 

 chamber is anywhere near the capacity of the 

 queen, one or the other will soon be neglected, 

 and filled with honey instead of brood. 



Mr. R. Wilkin tried using two eight-comb L. 

 brood-chambers (which were about the same 

 capacity as our two seven-inch sections) on an 

 extensive scale this season, and reports the 

 same experience as we had with the shallow 

 hives. The queen did not fill both sections sat- 

 isfactorily, and soon neglected one altogether. 

 From a non -swarming extracted-honey stand- 

 point, give us ten L. frames, twelve inches deep 

 outside, for a brood-chamber. 



Fillmore. Cal.. June 1. 



[Personally. I have never experimented with 

 deep brood-chambers ; but I have observed 

 this: that we in our locality, only a few miles 

 from H. R. Boardman, while following precise- 

 ly the same methods of wintering indoors, do 

 not have the same success that he does with 

 his deep hive. While we lose indoors from 10 

 to 25 per cent, Mr. Boardman loses none. Per- 

 haps the depth of brood-chamber may have 

 something to do with it: but after all, take the 

 reports as they generally run, there does not 

 seem to be much difference in results, so far as 

 wintering is concerned, between the Langstroth 

 size of frame and a square one. 



But friend McTntyre's argument is, if I un- 

 derstand him correctly, that more brood can be 

 secured by using a deeper frame. Perhaps he 

 is right. 



His experience, and also that of Mr. Holley. 

 agrees almost exactly with tests that we have 

 made here at the Home of the Honey-bees; 

 namely, that bees do not breed as well in di- 

 vided brood-chambers as in one in which there 

 is no division. Of course, we have tried only a 

 hive or two at a time; but the results, extended 

 over two or three years at different times, have 

 always pointed the same way. Last year, 

 when I visited Dr. Miller I found he had been 

 experimenting with divisible brood-chambers— 

 or, rather, a few shallow extracting-chambers 

 that had been adapted for the purpose. If I 

 remember correctly, he had difficulty in getting 

 the queen to breed properly in two or even one 

 at a time; and I think he then concluded that 

 full brood-chambers were far better for breed- 

 ing. The experience of Dr. Miller, of ourselves, 

 of friends Wilkin and Mclntyre, of Mr. Holley 

 (a man who was formerly predisposed in favor 

 of double brood-chambers), seems all one way. 

 We should really like to hear from those who 

 have tested this matter impartially — that is, 

 from those who have no selfish interest at 

 stake. Gleanings wants the truth, even if it 

 should turn our supply department upside down. 



Referring again to the cubical hive, here is 

 another article quite in the same line with 

 what has been already expressed by Mr. Mc- 

 lntyre, except that he would prefer a hive en- 

 tirely cubical. 



^ — • — ■ 



THE CUBICAL HIVE. 



ADVANTAGES FOR WINTERING, AND SURPLUS 

 honey; SELF-SPACING FEATURE, ETC. 



By F. A. Sndl. 

 I have read with deep interest the numerous 

 articles which have been published in our bee- 



journals for the past few months upon the form 

 and size of bee-hives, or, more particularly, the 

 brood-chamber. The articles have been ably 

 written, and in that kind spirit so commend- 

 able. In the 28 years that I have read on the 

 subject of bees through our journals, I must 

 say the subject of hives, or forms of them, has 

 not before been discussed with the force of ar- 

 gument which has characterized these of the 

 last few months, by so large a number of solid, 

 practical bee-keepers. 



As I have been keeping bees nearly all my 

 life, and in my present location 35 years, I have 

 experimented a good deal on a small scale with 

 hives of various forms and sizes. First, with 

 straw hives ; then with box hives of various 

 forms; later on, with the Cox, Langstroth, 

 American, New Idea, Eureka, and one having 

 12 brood-frames 18x22 inches, having no bottom- 

 bar, combs seven inches in depth. I have also 

 used the chaff hive. I have tried placing boxes 

 for surplus in front and rear of brood-chamber, 

 and at sides of brood; also on top in addition 

 to side storing. 



After testing the various ways and sizes of 

 brood-frames I decided upon a hive holding ten 

 American' brood-frames, 11^^ inches square, in- 

 side measure, and ten to a hive, which strikes a 

 medium between the deep and shallow brood- 

 frames. All may not be familiar with this 

 frame, so I will state that the top-bars are 

 tight- fitting, with the exception of two open- 

 ings 2}.2X^ inches, Avhich affords passageway to 

 the surplus-receptacles. The frames are spaced 

 at the bottoms by large-headed eight nails, 

 which keep the frames rightly spaced at all 

 times. 



Each hive-body has a movable side, opening 

 half-way down from top. This hive may be 

 tiered up as desired, and used for comb or ex- 

 tracted honey, as the apiarist may elect. I will 

 give here some of the reasons why I prefer this 

 form and size in a bee-hive. I can winter my 

 bees more successfully; they pass through the 

 spring months better, and are in much better 

 shape when the honey season opens in June. 



With me the colonies in deep frames almost 

 invariably wintered well where supplied with 

 good wholesome food, and a large per cent came 

 out with the brood-chamber crowded with bees, 

 while those in frames of 8>2 inches depth win- 

 tered poorly in the cellar or packed on summer 

 stands. Every apiarist knows full well what 

 success in wintering means. If we can only 

 have strong colonies May 1. with brood-cham- 

 ber well stocked with food, we are pretty sure 

 to secure a crop of surplus if it comes, provided 

 the form of hives is such that it can be placed 

 to best advantage to the owner. 



When the bees begin to whiten the combs 

 along the top-bars in early clover bloom, as 

 they will with a fair flow, the surplus room 

 should be given. If the hive is of compact 

 form, the bees will commence work in all parts 



