1896 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



215 



the natural instincts of my bees, but that, by 

 •working in harmony with these instincts, and 

 allowing ray bees to swarm. I get far better re- 

 sults in work; and the divisible brood -chamber, 

 when contracted to the capacity of four L. 

 frames, as I use it for hiving swarms, forces the 

 bees into the sections, and the work goes right 

 on with the added energy of the new swarm 

 This is what I consider perfect control of 

 swarming; and all who are familiar with the 

 workings of this hive know how well it is 

 adapted to this purpose. And so on all along 

 down the line of the various manipulations of 

 this hive: always keeping in view the natural 

 instincts of the bee as we find them, we have 

 perfect control of our bees at all times. 



By interchanging the sections of the brood- 

 chamber of this hive as often as any honey 

 appears along the top-bar, we accomplish the 

 same object that Mr. Boardman and others do 

 by feeding sugar syrup— that of getting all the 

 whitehoney in the sections, with the advantage 

 that our brood-chamber is crowded with brood 

 clear to the top- bar instead of having to buy 

 sugar. This gives perfect control of the honey- 

 storing of our bees; and by contraction to the 

 capacity of 4 L. frames, or expansion to any 

 desired limit, we have perfect control of the 

 brood-rearing of our bees. 



I have stated these facts as I have found 

 them by actual experience in the use of these 

 hives, as a honey-producer, and am not in any 

 way interested in the manufacture or sale of 

 any kind of hives. It is true, there is no hive 

 that will please every one. and there are many 

 good hives now in use; and perhaps in the 

 hands of the average bee-keeper this hive would 

 give no better results, if as good, as the ones 

 they are using. It should be understood that 

 this hive, without following the system of ma- 

 nipulation for which it is particularly con- 

 structed, is no better, if as good, than most other 

 hives in use. But to the practical honey-pro- 

 ducer who wants to take advantage of a short 

 honey-flow to get the white honey in the sec- 

 tions, it is of real value, and 1 believe most of 

 those who have condemned these hives have 

 been compelled to do so by the improper con- 

 struction of the hives as they used them. 



Most people make a mistake in making their 

 hives too large. They should not contain more 

 than S frames, and the frames should not be 

 larger than 4I4XI7 inches inside, and by all 

 means they should be used in a side-opening 

 hive. This removes the greatest objection I 

 have ever found in the use of these hives, and 

 takes away all that uncomfortable feeling B. 

 Taylor experienced whenever he had to manip- 

 ulate those frames. Again, Dr. Miller says the 

 man who has perhaps used it longer than any 

 other denounces it at last. Why didn't he go a 

 little further, and tell us that it took the gen- 

 tleman referred to 30 years to find out the weak 



points of this hive? and as I have used it only 

 five or six years. I think I may be excused for 

 not having found them out yet. 



In conclusion, my advice to beginners is, go 

 slow; prove all things, and hold fast that which 

 is good. 



Wakeman, O., Feb. 17. 



FURNITURE -NAIL SPACERS. 



A FEW SUGGESTIONS TO DR. MILLER. 



liy N. T. Phelps. 



What Dr. Miller says on p. .57 makes me feel 

 like giving him a suggestion or two, whether he 

 will profit by them or not. He does not seem to 

 like the " best things " always (my judgment). 

 In the production of comb honey I don't see 

 how he can want a better frame-spacer than 

 the furniture-nails, using them so that the tops 

 of two nail-heads will come together, using just 

 twice as many as he proposes to use. I feel 

 sure that a thorough trial of them will satisfy 

 anyone. They will not catch on to "things" 

 or each other. They make a little knob to hold 

 by that makes it easier to handle the frames, or 

 carry about the apiary, either with one hand or 

 both, if they are placed out on the ends of the 

 top-bar, where they ought to be. 



After trying many kinds of spacers, and using 

 some for fifteen years continuously — long before 

 the Gleanings people would tolerate the idea 

 of a spacer — I suggest to Dr. Miller that he 

 confine himself to furniture-nails. If those do 

 not suit him I suggest that he use staples, such 

 as are used to fasten the rods to the edges of the 

 slats to window-blinds, or carpet-staples, put- 

 ting them in so that the tops will cross each 

 other at right angles when the frames are in 

 proper place in the hives. Use a punch or set 

 to drive them with that has a rather broad end 

 with a hole or slot to place over the staples, to 

 drive them exactly the right depth. 



As Dr. Miller wishes to cut oil the end of his 

 top-bar H of an inch on each end, and put in a 

 spacing-nail. I suggest that he don't do it. 

 They will " catch on to things." In its stead I 



