772 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. L 



we have six thicknesses of burlap on top, and a 

 % bee-space at each end, and nearly 2 inches of 

 I)acking on each side. A folded newspaper is 

 placed on the top of all, so it will just stick over 

 all around and allow you to put on the cap. I 

 have seen these hives stand in the most bleak 

 and windy places in Connecticut, and there are 

 a few of them that are bad enough. These 

 hives have stood the test by the side of the chaff 

 hive, and in every resiject wei'e ])referred. 



Right here I wish to say. that, with the wide- 

 end-bar hanging frame. I, with quite a number 

 of others, want two division-boards, one on 

 each side. That is so that the hive can be 

 opened from eithei' side; and I like a long strip 

 of wot)d 12 inches long as a key for each side, in 

 pi-eference to a thumb-screw, having used both 

 because I can handle the wedge fastej- and 

 easier. I prefer the lag strips on both sides of 

 the division-boards at the ends }4 inch thick, 1 

 inch wide, so that the division-boards, when 

 they become sprung, can be turned ai'ound so as 

 to spring them back by using the wedges. 



With all this rigging and complication, I can 

 handle fully twice the number of hives that I 

 can with the common hanging frames, taking 

 the season all through. But if you undertake 

 to handle every comb separately, and have a 

 veiy strong colony, it is a little slower; but in 

 such cases I shake the bees from the comb in 

 front of the hive, and keep right along. I have 

 not been troubled with combs being so bulged 

 that they would rub with the 1% -spaced combs, 

 because I generally use full sheets of founda- 

 tion; and whenever I have used only founda- 

 tion starters I use them between full combs. 



I tried the single reversing comb and the 

 whole hive reversible for some time, with both 

 wide and narrow end-bar frames, and I have 

 been forced to accept the wide-end-bar hanging 

 frame. It came slowly, and has been a bitter 

 dose; but it is here; and for the L. size frame it 

 has no equal. With me and some others it 

 stands wide-end bars and reversing wires. 



Try a few hives with frames 4)^x17 inches, 

 inside measure, and try a cap with sides 13 inches 

 deep, front, and 113-^ back, allowing the sides to 

 project 1}4 inches "^below the front board of the 

 cap. These deep caps liave proved a very bene- 

 ficial thing in three points. Fii'St, they make 

 first-class protection in winter, late fall, and 

 early spring. Second, bees will go into the sec- 

 tions quicker and earlier in the season, which Is 

 quite an item. Third, the bees do not desert the 

 sections late in the summer. 



Bees do not cluster quite so early in the fall, 

 which here in Connecticut is quite an item; 

 and this deep cap, wide-end bar, reversible 

 frame, with the two division-boards and chaff- 

 packed-bottom hive, will be the hive for that 

 lourth class of bee-keepers mentioned on page 

 697. It has stood the test for years past in cold 

 and windy locations, and in warm and sheltered 

 places, with good results. H. L. Jeffrey. 



New Milford, Conn., Oct. 13. 



There is no doubt that th(^ closed-end frames 

 are a great deal warmer for winter. Both El- 

 wood and Capt. Iletherington have urged that, 

 and their statements are not to be lightly 

 esteemed. With a division-board on each side. 

 and closed-end frames, we shall virtually have 

 a double-walled hive out of one made of % lum- 

 ber. While the idea is by no means new, I am 

 glad you suggested it, for it is an opportune 

 time for giving the plan a trial. For practical 

 working. I do not believe that the majority of 

 bee-keepers would like two division-boards. 

 The bee-keepers I visited, using fixed distances, 



used only one. It is true, the extra division- 

 board gives added protection; but can not the 

 exposed side — the side without the division- 

 board — be pointed toward the south, or that di- 

 rection from which comes the least cold wind? 



MANUM'S MEDINA VISITOR. 



MR. MANUM'S recollections OF THE THINGS- 

 SAID AND DONE. 



"Jennie, I wish you would step into the shop 

 a moment" (the shop being adjacent to the 

 house). 



" Yes, sir; what is it '?"' 



"There; do you think this box will hold all 

 the lunch you have prepared for me to take to- 

 camp-meeting?" 



"Yes, I think so; but how will you prevent 

 the pies and cake from getting jammed if all 

 are put in together?" 



" Well, I am going to nail cleats on the in- 

 side, three inches from the bottom, and after 

 the pies, etc., are put in I can tit another bot- 

 tom over them and then ])ut in more stuff, and 

 then another bottom, and so on until the box is 

 full." 



"Oh, yes! I see; that will be nice." 



"There, Mr. Manum; some one has just 

 driven into the yard — two gentlemen and a 

 little girl, in a carriage. I must scud back into 

 the house, for they will probably be in here in 

 a moment." 



" I will step out and see who they are. Why! 

 how do you do, Mr. Crane ?" 



" Quite well, thank you. I suppose you know 

 who this gentleman is I have with me ?" 



" Well, I imagine it is Mr. Ernest, the lost 

 child — or, rather, the one whose whereabouts 

 for the past few days has been a mystery to me. 

 Yes, I can see the 'Root' sticking out of his 

 eyes, even though they are covered with 

 glasses. How do you do, Mr. Root? I am 

 glad you have got here at last," giving the 

 "' Root " a hearty hand-shake as he remarked, 



"Y''es, Mr. Manum. I am Ernest, and I feel 

 that I owe you an apology for my conduct in 

 not keeping you posted as to my whereabouts 

 the past few days, as no doubt you would have 

 been in camp with us on Lake George had you 

 known I was there." 



"Y'es, Mr. Root, I had intended to join the 

 party on Lake (leorge, in company with you, 

 as I had inferred, from what you and Mr. Lar- 

 rabee had written me, you were to visit me 

 sooner, and that I should have the pleasure of 

 your company on the way to the camp. But 

 instead, you went directly to the camp; and, as 

 friend Larrabee expressed it in a recent letter, 

 I was 'left in the soup.' But, as he reports a 

 very enjoyable time, I will overlook it, and 

 grant the pardon you ask. Now, Mr. Crane. 

 let me put your horse in the barn, and we will 

 have a visit all together. Let us go into the 

 shop, as I suppose you will both prefer that to 

 the house at present. Jennie will soon have 

 tea readv, and then we will go in." So, into 

 the shop Ve go, where we have a regular bee- 

 convention. 



" Now, Mr. Root, if you will tell me how 

 many days you can stop with me I will plan a 

 little in order to have you see as many of our 

 Vermont bee-keepers and their apiaries as pos- 

 sible, for all are on tiptoe, and ready to spring- 

 at a moment's warning to give you a welcome." 



" Thank you; you are very kind; but I must 

 go to-morrow." 



" What! go to-morrow ?" 



" Y"es. I must be in Troy, N. Y., to-morrow 

 night." 



