1895 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



925 



Gleanings and the hive discussion with a keen 

 interest. 



What is this— this thunder of the warhorse, 

 rushing on to the battle, eager for the cannon's 

 roar and the rattle of musketry — the riders 

 shouting victory! as they hurl themselves on 

 the foe? It is an overwhelming victory for the 

 larger-hive men. 



Then I was in a bad fix. I could not lengthen 

 out my hives again, but I could do the next 

 best thing — I could give the bees more room in 

 front, so I added 4 feet to my alighting-board. 



The discussion went on — always went on — 

 till I made out a large majority for smaller 

 hives. What could I do? There was no other 

 way than to cut oflf 4 inches more. 



After this came a wild war-whoop from the 

 West that bore down all before it, and scored a 

 complete victory for the larger-hive men. I 

 added 4 feet more to my alighting- board. 



Then there came a wail — a plaintive and 

 beseeching wail of sorrow — from the far East — 

 a heart-rending plea for smaller hives. I could 

 not resist it, and I cut off 4 inches more. 



Then I was called away from home, and 

 could not consult Gleanings till 1 returned. 

 When I did get hold of it I read the discussion 

 eagerly, and there was a large majority for 

 smaller hives. So I cut off 3 inches more. Aft- 

 er I had completed the work I found I had got 

 hold of the wrong number— not the last one. 

 The latest Gleanings gave a big majority for 

 larger hives. I added 4 feet lo my alighting- 

 board. 



skylark s hive. 



Then there came to my heart, voices— voices 

 from the far-away South and the far West — 

 voices laden with the perfume of the orange 

 and the nectarine— sweet, tender, gentle voices, 

 pleading for a larger hive. I immediately add- 

 ed 4 feet to my alighting-board! 



Then for a good many issues the vote waver- 

 ed, balanced, was a tie, or neither party had a 

 decided majority. Then came another great 

 majority for smaller hives, and of course I had 



to saw off 2 inches more. This leaves my hive 

 just 2 inches long. Now, if this discussion 

 continues with large majorities for smaller 

 hives I shall have to saw off the front door and 

 let the bees camp on the alighting-board. Here 

 is a picture of my hive now. 



Do you believe this hive will be a success, or 

 am I a ruined man ? 



friend .JONES appears. 



I was just about to mail you this splendid 

 experiment of mine when friend Jones came 

 over to see me. 



" Hello, Skylark! what does all this mean — 

 the sun-extractor full of brood, young larvae, 

 eggs, and honey — this large amount of wax, 

 and this great pile of kindling-wood?" 



" Well, Jones, I have just completed a great 

 work. You know that Gleanings has, for the 

 last six months, had a hive discussion on hand;" 

 and then I told him the whole story. 



"I never heard or read of the like of this— 

 you are justly called the 'idiotic giant.' " 



"Now, Jones, you know that refers only to 

 the large amount of undeveloped intellect 

 baled and stored away in my mind." 



"Yes, truly it is baled, and balrd so tightly 

 that it has as much sense in it as there is in a 

 bale of hay. Do you see that plank there? 

 Why didn't you get a dozen or two of these, and 

 saw them into blocks? Y'ou could have put in 

 a block, and then a bale of your undeveloped 

 intellect, and then another block and bale, 

 and thus made the hive as small as you 

 pleased. The blocks and bales would act equal- 

 ly well as dummies." 



This was so unkind that I could do nothing 

 else than burst into tears. 



"Now look here. Skylark, be something of a 

 man. You have lost $600, but you can get back 

 there. Buy a hundred new hives. Take that 

 thing you call a hive, and cut some off the bot- 

 tom. Set it, bees and all, in the side of the 

 new hive, and fill up with frames. Put on the 

 honey- boards and top boxes, and feed $200 worth 

 of sugar. You may be able to build them up 

 by the next honey-harvest; but if you don't do 

 this you are a ruined man." 



Now, I don't care what is said against my 

 moral character. The people know I am not a 

 bad man, and won't believe it; but when any 

 one tells them I am a fool, they will believe 

 that, for they have often thought so themselves. 



ANOTHER WOULD BE SUICIDE. 



The plea for old oil-cans, by friend Butler, on 

 p. 769, is certainly a great advance in apiculture- 

 backward. When you can teach a man to save 

 a dollar and lose three, you are certainly doing 

 him a great service— likewise backward. He 

 pays 20 cents for his cans and 2.5 for his case— 

 45 cents; a new case and cans costs 80 rents; so 

 he is ahead 35. Now, when he goes to sell, the 

 trouble comes in. No dealer will give as much 



