208 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



To the first I answer both yes and no. As 

 a bread and butter winner, no; as an experi- 

 mentalist, equipiJed for thorough work in 

 minute details, I say yes I will know that the 

 two colonies are exactly alike. 



To the second query my answer is there 

 must be no " apparently " about it, we must 

 know, else we fail and the experiment would 

 be practically barren. 



The two colonies selected should have 

 young queens, better, if sisters of the "same 

 litter," then so carefully watched that I 

 know their condition at all times. I will 

 illustrate by one point how carefully all 

 must be guarded. 



Suppose the honey flow is short ; opening 

 July 1st and closing the 10th. Doolittle says 

 37 days from the egg make a field bee. I 

 will call it 40 days. May 10 to 20 queen No. 1 

 gives me four combs of eggs, and No. 2 only 

 two combs. The succeeding 10 days (say 20 

 to 30) the order is reversed, No. 2 gives four, 

 as against two, in No. 1, then they keep even 

 pace. The result would be that at the close 

 of the flow the colonies would be of about 

 equal strength. Yet queen No. 1. had in the 

 field, as honey gatherers, two combs of brood 

 more force than did No. 2. Other things be- 

 ing equal. No. 1 would give probably I4 or 

 1-5 more honey than No. 2 ; yet the ordinary 

 apiarist would report the two colonies just 

 alike. 



In the journals I read reports of many 

 experiments, mostly by non-experts, the 

 experimenter claiming to have settled some 

 point. Yet in nearly every case ^ome im- 

 portant factor is overlooked, of course the 

 point is NOT settled. 



By far the easiest way to test the value of 

 the different systems, is by managing a large 

 apiary (or apiaries) with not less than 100 

 colonies, on each side. They should occupy 

 same field, the same kind of hives, and 

 be under the care of same apiarist, I would 

 be willing to put a few dollars into stock in 

 an experimental apiary, one that could be 

 run with proper facilities and not be obliged 

 to work for profit. However, I believe such 

 an apiary could be made self-sustaining, and 

 even pay a dividend. 



Some of the more strictly scientific points 

 in the anatomy and physiology of the bee, 

 and the various functions etc., could be left 

 to such men as Professors Larrabee and 

 Gillette who can have expert help on all 

 points. I do insist, that to be conclusive, 

 these tests must be made with proper facili- 



ties in the hands of competent men to detail 

 reports of the work done. With a limited 

 stock much more care and skill is required, 

 and a much larger proportionate expense, to 

 give the same reliability to the tests, when 

 making comparisons between the various 

 systems of management. 



Prof. Larrabee, devoting his whole time 

 and the stocks he can handle, if he under- 

 takes many experiments cannot do them 

 justice. He should have more help. It is 

 enough for him to have charge of the work 

 and do the necessary thinkiay without hav- 

 ing to do the most of the manual labor. 



Thought, yes intense thought, is needed to 

 make the results of the work satisfactory. 



LovELAND, Colo. June 24, 1892. 



The Revolving, Non-Swarmer and What is 

 Expected of it. 



B. TAYLOE. 



□7 H E Revolving, 

 T' ^lon- Swarming 

 Hive Stand, looks 

 splendid in the 

 picture, does it not 

 BrotherH? The 

 shop is visible on 

 the left, and the iron 

 curing house on the 

 right, with house 

 apiary door just 

 visible, barn and 

 big pines in the rear 

 with the two troughs for watering the bees 

 between shop and revolving stand. This 

 stand is made by bolting six 4x4 pine scant- 

 lings seven feet long, to an old cast iron 

 mower wheel. Three cedar posts are then set 

 firmly in the ground and bound together by 

 nailing 2x8 joist on each side of them and in 

 the center post an iron gudgeon receives the 

 wheel and holds it in place. The stand turns 

 so easily that a child's finger can move it. 

 On the end of each arm a nice alighting 

 board is permantly fixed and a hive is placed 

 on each arm, this makes the hives accessible 

 from all sides and is a very handy place to 

 do all kinds of work. The hives are 29 

 inches, long IG wide and 7% deep, and when 

 full contain 19 combs 6)4 x 13 inches inside 

 measure. The top is covered by three plain 

 boards 9>2' x Ut^^ inches, with ends cleated, 

 and holds three supers of 16 one pound 



