234 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mar. 



Recent DEVEL-epjffip^ 



CONDUCTED BY ERNEST R. ROOT. 



THE DOVETAILED HIVE, AGAIN. 



fHE new hive seems to be taking well, 

 especially the dovetailed feature of it. 

 The only serious criticism that has 

 been offered is the dispensing of the 

 bee -space above the brood-frames, in 

 the hive, and, instead, putting it below. As 

 many good friends, prominently among the 

 number Mr. Heddon, thought we were mak- 

 ing a mistake, we called aVouncil compris- 

 ing, as usual, A. I. R., the foreman, Mr. 

 Calvert, and your humble servant. After 

 discussing the matter in all its bearings, we 

 saw our way, without any additional ex- 

 pense, to put the bee-space above the frames, 

 and, of course, make the honey-board bee- 

 spaced on one side only. To provide for a 

 bee-space below the frames, we make what 

 might be called a sunk or bee-spaced bot- 

 tom-board, one side open for an entrance. 

 This bottom -board is simply a cover, as 

 shown in the engraving on page 189, with 

 the projecting shoulder of one of the end 

 cleats cut down so as to be made level with 

 the board itself for an entrance. A t-inch 

 strip is nailed on to close up the two sides. 

 As a result of this change, the cover-board 

 and bottom-board are exactly alike, except 

 that they are cleated a little differently, and 

 the bottom-board can be used as a cover, al- 

 though the cover can not be used to answer 

 the purpose of a bottom. 



Fortunately it was not too late to change 

 the bee-space from the bottom of the frames 

 to the top. All who have sent for the Dove- 

 tailed hive will receive them with the bee- 

 space above the frames, and the bottom- 

 boards bee - spaced as before explained. 

 Perhaps it may seem a little strange that 

 we should think of abolishing thebee-space 

 in the first place. We had not then discov- 

 ered a feasible plan whereby the space could 

 be put above the frames, without an addi- 

 tional expense. In constructing this hive, 

 the one feature of economy has been kept 

 constantly in view, and we believe we have 

 succeeded, as many letters at hand testify. 



HIVE-LIFTERS, AND CARRYING HIVES. 



Some time ago I stated that we would give 

 something more on the matter of carrying 

 hives. In compliance with our request in 

 Gleanings, quite a number sent in de- 

 scriptions of the devices which they were 

 using for carrying hives ; but scarcely any 

 of them seemed practicable for carrying the 

 Simplicities or any other than some particu- 

 lar hive. They either cost too much or else 

 were complicated. Mr. J. H. Griffith, of 

 Kingsville. Ontario, Can., and G. L. Jones, * 

 of Grand Ridge, III., suggested a method of 

 lifting hives, which I have modified some- 

 what. The engravings above explain the 

 whole thing. It is simply a wire bail bent 

 in the form shown in the engraving at the 

 right, with hooks formed at the ends of the 

 wires. For convenience in handling, a neat 



* Mr. Jones, in a letter, says he carried into the cel- 

 lar over 100 hives with such a device. 



bail handle is formed into the bend. It is 

 very simple, and quickly made, and a pair 

 of them can be made at a cost not to exceed 

 25 cents. You will notice that they will 

 pick up not only the Simplicity hive it- 

 self, but the bottom-board also. The op- 

 eration of attachment is very simple ; push 



WIRE BAIL FOR CARRYING HIVES. 



the hooks into the soil, close to one side of 

 the bottom, catch the beveled edge of the 

 rim of the bottom-board, and the wire bail 

 is caught. The other bail is attached in a 

 similar manner. The apiarist can, either 

 with or without an assistant, now lift up the 

 hive. If the colony is a heavy one, and there 

 are many to be moved, it would be advisa- 

 ble, of course, to employ an assistant, as 

 shown in the right in the engraving above. 

 If, on the contrary, the hive is not a very 

 heavy one, he can, without very much diffi- 

 culty, handle it as shown at the left. Per- 

 haps it may be urged that it is almost as 

 handy to put the fingers under the bottom- 

 board ; but if you consider a moment, you 

 will see that it is not a very easy task 

 to lift a burden when the body is stoop- 

 ed clear over in an awkward position. 

 One can handle a much greater weight in 

 an upright or nearly upright position, as 

 shown in either of the figures above, than 

 he can when the body is inclined horizontal- 

 ly. But the bail is a greater convenience 

 when there are two to carry the hives, be- 

 cause then the palms of the hands are not 

 twisted out of their natural position. The 

 two figures were taken from a photograph. 



To test these hive-carriers, Mr. Spafford 

 and I attached them successively to several 

 chaff hives, which, you are aware, are con- 

 siderably heavier than the ordinary Sim- 

 plicity. We found we could lift them with 

 ease, and carry them to any place desired. 



As they can be used oh any hive with 

 tight or loose bottom-board, I think they 

 may prove a great help. The time is now 

 approaching when it will be necessary to 

 carry the bees out of the cellar ; and to ac- 

 commodate those who do not care to make 

 them, w r e will furnish them for 28 cents per 

 pair, or 10 cents extra when sent by mail. 



P. S.— Since writing the above I discover, 

 quite by accident, that one Wm. K. Deish- 

 er, of Kutztown, Pa., illustrated and describ- 

 ed something very similar in Gleanings 

 for 1883, page 607. ' Mr. D.*s implement was 

 made of f-inch iron, rather heavier than 

 necessary. That described above is made of 

 ordinary bail wire, such as is used foa pails. 

 Mr. K. says it is very handy, and that two 

 boys can carry even a chaff hive about with 

 ease. 



