1896 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



217 



PKACTICAL HIVES. 



THE HILTON CHAFF HIVK. 



By Hull. Oeorge E. Hilton. 



Perhaps there is no one item in bee-keeping 

 of more practical importance than the hive 

 and brood-frame we use. In regard to the 

 frame, the Langstroth (or Simplicity) size has 

 become almost as standard as the widths of our 

 wagon-tracks; in fact, I am safe In saying 

 there are more hives of this size in use to-day 

 than all other sizes combined. The frame 

 proper is Yl% inches long and 9V deep, the top- 

 bar being 1938 inches long. 



There are several styles made, but I very 

 much prefer what is known as the " Hoffman." 

 This is a heavy top-bar in depth as well as 

 width. The end-bars are made \% inches wide 

 for about three inches down, and one side is 

 worked off to a knife-edge, which comes against 

 the square edge of the next frame, making 

 them a self-spacing but not a closed-end frame, 

 and allowing the proper bee-space between the 

 top-bars. This is a great help to the beginner 

 in bee culture, and does away with the honey- 

 board. 



The hive to adapt itself to this frame, and to 

 be best adapted to the production of comb hon- 

 ey, should have a brood-nest 1134" inches wide, 

 10 inches deep, and l&% inches long, which will 

 accommodate 8 frames without a follower, and 

 I believe a follower in a brood nest is worse 

 than worthless. This arrangement leaves % 

 inch between the top of the frames and the top 

 of the brood-nest, so that, when the surplus- 

 cases are put on, the proper bee-space is pre- 

 served. 



There are those who still prefer a single- 

 walled hive; but I find in Michigan, and other 

 States as far north as we are. some kind of 

 chaff or double-walled hive is preferred by the 

 large majority of bee-keepers. For those who 

 still prefer the single-walled hive, I know of 

 no cheaper, better made, or more practical 

 hive than the one illustrated below. 



less in the spring, are in better condition for 

 the honey-flow when it comes, and do better 

 work in the surplus-apartment, with a hive 

 that protects the bees against the sudden 

 changes that are sure to come in this latitude. 

 To do this we must have some kind of double- 

 walled hive that will protect the bees against 

 the extreme changes of heat, as well as the 

 extreme changes of cold, and is always in readi- 

 ness for these emergencies, night or day, sum- 

 mer or winter. 



Perhaps no one in this State has experiment- 

 ed more along these lines than the writer, and 

 I believe there are more of the hives illustrated 

 below used between here and the Straits than 

 all others combined. In the past 1.5 years of 

 their use I have received nothing but favorable 

 comment along the lines mentioned above. 



THE DOVETAILED HIVE. 



But years of practical experience prove that 

 bees winter better, and consequently dwindle 



HILTON'S IMPROVED DOUBLE- WAIXED HIVE 

 AND T SUPER. 



This hive is made of '^^ lumber, ship- lapped 

 together in a manner to make a perfect joint; 

 is 20 inches wide and 24 inches long, and about 

 20 inches high to the eave of roof, and weighs 

 (empty) about 50 pounds. The brood-nest is of 

 the dimensions given, but can be made to hold 

 ten frames instead of eight. 



The brood-nest is raised sufficiently to admit 

 of packing between the bottom of brood-nest 

 and bottom of hive proper, also room for pack- 

 ing at sides and ends. It will be readily under- 

 stood that the lower portion of the hive, being 

 well protected against the cold, the warmth 

 from the bees arising will care for the upper 

 portion. To avoid condensation in this case I 

 cover the brood-nest between the times of re- 

 moving the surplus-cases in the fall and put- 

 ting them in again the following season with a 

 porous substance or chaff cushion. This I 

 arrange by making a wooden rim about four 

 inches deep, covered top and bottom with bur- 

 lap, and tilled with chaff or cut straw (which I 

 prefer for all the packing). This rim should be 

 madea little smaller than the Insideof the hive. 



When I remove the surplus-cases in the fall I 

 make sure they have plenty of stores for winter. 

 Lay on a piece of woolen blanket if you have 



