1893 



(iLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



451 



the closed-end frames, one of which is shown 

 al 3, in the first figure. 



A novel feature of the super is, that there is 

 absolutely nothing except compression and 

 separators to hold the sections — supporting- 

 slats, etc., being dispensed with. It was Oliver 

 Foster, we believe, who first constructed a super 

 on this plan; but just how far the idea proved 

 to be a success, we are not able to say. but 

 Aikin I>ros. & Knight have their separators 

 perforated at regular intervals in such a way 

 as to leave burr edges at the holes, something 

 as you will find on the rough side of a nutmeg- 

 grater. These separators are let down in be- 

 tween the sections, the burr edges coming just 

 opposite to the edges of the uprights of the 

 sections. Pieces of tin, having similar edges, 

 are nailed to the sides of the supers, spaced 

 off so as to come opposite the uprights. Now, 

 when compression is applied to a super filled 

 with sections, these rough edges are supposed 

 to imbed themselves into the edge of the sec- 

 tion; and this, together with compression, is 

 designed to hold them up. In actual practice, 

 however, we are of the opinion that this plan 

 would not prove to be an entire success. It 

 may do in Colorado, where the climate is less 

 variable than here; but in our locality, if we 

 apply an unyielding compression on a set of 

 sections during moist weather, and dry hot 

 weather comes on, the sections seem to be quite 

 loose. The compression that we find practical 

 in our locality is a yielding compression, or one 

 produced by the springing of the following- 

 board. 



The hive proper, as will be seen from the 

 engravings, is an invertible one; and the man- 

 ner of accomplishing the inversion is effected 

 by the holster L. This device is quite similar 

 to the one used by J. M. Shuck. 



Although there is nothing particular new in 

 the rruinner of reversing, it is applied to accom- 

 plish a rather new use — the prevention of 

 swarming. Aikin Bros, depend not entirely 

 upon reversing to destroy cells (we do not be- 

 lieve this is always reliable), but as a means to 

 transfer the working force of two colonies of 

 bees from one to the other, and vice versa, often 

 enough so as to impoverish for a few days one 

 hive to such an e.xtent that what ceils are not 

 destroyed by the reversing will be torn down 

 by the queen, because the condition of prosper- 

 ity that ruled a few days before has been 

 removed. After the approach of the swarming 

 season, if we undei-stand the method correctly, 

 the working force of the brood-chainber B, by a 

 simple device or alternator. J, Fig. 2, are turned 

 into the brood-chamber C. The alternator is a 

 sort of entrance - block, so constructed that 

 the bees can be turned by a scheme of bee- 

 escapes from one hive to another. The bees, 

 not being able to pass out of the entrance by 

 which they entered, will use the upper entrance 

 between D and H. just above the honey-board 

 ■G, separating the two lower hives from the 

 super D. When the colony in C is pretty near 

 the point of swarming, the paii' is I'everscd in 

 the manner shown in the left of Fig. 2. hive B 

 being placed uppermost and C below. The 

 alternator, J. is turned thr same side upward 

 as before, and the working force is again the 

 upoer and now impoverished brood-chamber, 

 where cells have been destroyed, and all 

 thoughts of swarming have been given up. 

 The design is, to keep the working force of two 

 colonies confined to one super or one set of 

 supers, instead of having this same force dis- 

 tributed in two different hives, and on two 

 ■different supers, with the liability of swarms 

 from either. 



So far the principle of non-swarming seems 

 to be the same as that of H. P. Langdon, al- 



though the method hy which it is accomplished 

 is entirely different." The Langdon plan, as 

 described on page loi), is, to change the working 

 force from one hive to another on a horizontal 

 plane. The plan above given is to change the 

 working force on a perpendicular plane. Mr. 

 Knight, if we arc correct, has used this plan 

 successfully for t". o years. 



Aikin Bros. & 1\ night say the same plan of 

 non-swarming can be adapted to any hive hav- 

 ing loose bottoms by using a honey- board and 

 the '• alternator." Indeed, they have sent us 

 one to be used on a Dovetailed hive. 



Another peculiarity of the new hive is, that 

 the entrance is at the top. This simplifies the 

 construction of the alternator so that the work- 

 ing force can be veiy readily turned from one 

 hive to another. Then, besides, it is considered 

 an advantage to have the entrance near the 

 supers, because it is thought that the bees will 

 enter the same more readily. As for wintering, 

 Messrs. Aikin Bros. & Knight think it is better 

 to have top ventilation and the bottom tight. 



We notice that we have omitted to say any 

 thing about the queen-trap, as shown at 6, Fig. 

 1. This is a part of the honey-board, and is 

 designed to trap the queen where swarming is 

 allowed, and it is not deemed best to let the 

 bees or queen escape. 



Tobacco Column. 



Please send me a smoker, as I have discon- 

 tinued the use of tobacco entirely. If I ever 

 use it again I will pay for the smoker. 



D<>xter, N. Y., March (J. C. G. Potter. 



I think I am entitled to one of your smokers, 

 as I am now a subscriber to Gleanings. If I 

 ever use the weed again I will pay you for the 

 smoker. J. H. Siples. 



Wrights, Miss., April 1.5. 



I have been a subscriber to Gleanings since 

 Jan. 1st last, and since that time I have thrown 

 down the cigarette, with the determination of 

 not taking it up again. I therefore claim the 

 smoker as my reward, and hope it will be the 

 mi-ans of keeping me from breaking my prom- 

 ise. If I use tobacco again, of course I will 

 pay for the smoker. L. L. Neyland. 



Berwick, Miss., Mar. 18. 



I am a subscriber to Gleanings. I noticed 

 your Tobacco Column. My boy has been using 

 tobacco for some time, and I told him about 

 your promising a smoker to those who quit 

 using tobacco or cigarettes. He says he will 

 quit using tobacco if I will get him a smoker. 

 He has tsvo swarms of bees in Dovetailed hives. 

 I think he is entitled to one of your smokers. 

 If he ever uses tobacco again I will promptly 

 pay for the smoker. O. J. Weeks. 



West Webster, N. Y., March 13. 



I have been induced, through Gleanings, 

 to quit chewing tobacco; and if you wish you 

 may send me a smoker; and if I ever use the 

 weed agnin I hereby agree to pay you for the 

 smoker. Tobacco is very injurious to me, my 

 nervous system being so susceptible to the nar- 

 cotic poison contained in the weed that it made 

 me feel like a drunk man. Friends, I hereby 

 give you all warning. Heed my advice, and do 

 not use the filthy weed any more, for it corrupts 

 both the physical and mental en(M-gies of man. 

 Enoch Andekson. 



Comanche. Texas, May 10. 



