1889 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 



625 



crammed full of honey and brood. From 

 all such we removed one of the sections of 

 foundation and put in its place a section of 

 partly drawn-out comb. In most cases it 

 had the effect of starting the bees above at 

 once. Honey was first stored in the bait 

 section, and then the bees gradually began 

 upon sheets of the adjoining foundation. 

 On others of our colonies we put in a whole 

 row of unfinished sections, because they 

 were not as strong as some others. Al- 

 though the other rows contained full sheets 

 of foundation, the row containing the un- 

 finished combs of the previous year are the 

 only ones today that contain any honey at 

 all. In a heavier honey-flow, perhaps our 

 experience would be reversed. 



M. H. HUNT'S APIARY. 



HIS ONE-STORY CHAFF HIVE, ETC. 



fHE cut shows only the central part of our 

 apiary. The large hive is the center, and 

 contains four swarms. It is made quite or- 

 namental, and we all think it a very handy 

 one to work with. The upper story is hing- 

 ed, and self-supporting when tipped half over. The 



Chaff hives suggest outdoor wintering, which we 

 have always practiced, and, with the exception of 

 the great honey-dew year, we have been very suc- 

 cessful. 



HUNT'S APIARY. 



The grass in the apiary is always kept short; and 

 to keep it down close to the hives, so the mower 

 will cut it all, without hitting them, the sod is re- 

 moved for a space of eight inches all around each 

 one, and cinders packed in. As the grass sometimes 

 grows through this, we are experimenting with wa- 

 ter lime; andjf it stands the winter without crum- 

 bling, we shall use it around and under all our 

 hives. 



We have always tried to make our yard attractive, 

 and I think it pays in the satisfaction one feels in 

 looking it over, and showing it to visitors. It also 

 stimulates others to do likewise, which certainly 

 helps our business. 



We have sold both of our out-apiaries. We could 

 not attend to them as we wished, on account of our 

 increasing business. Our house and factory are a 

 few rods to the right of the honey-house. 



Bell Branch, Mich. M. £. Hunt. 



The apiary presents very much the ap- 

 pearance it did when we visited it a few 

 years ago ; in fact, a photographer, we fan- 



hunt's chaff-hive apiary. 



rest of the hives (ninety in all), except five or six, 

 are our new style, chaff in the lower part only. The 

 upper part is movable; and when off it is just right 

 to hang in brood or wide frames. Should you wish 

 to get at the brood-frames when the sections are 

 on, it is but a moment's work to remove them all at 

 once. The brood-frames come up even with the top 

 of the lower part. The space for surplus is 21 x 23 

 inches, and can be used for any kind of surplus ar- 

 rangement that one happens to fancy. The upper 

 part is made slanting in order to get the cover the 

 same size as the lower part, making it more handy 

 to pack and ship. The whole top is filled with ab- 

 sorbing material in the winter. 



cy, might step into the yard at anytime and 

 take a picture, and friend Hunt would nev- 

 er have any regrets in having it presented 

 to the public. We do not know whether he 

 always keeps down the grass so that it pre- 

 sents the appearance of a nice lawn. If he 

 does he does better than the most of us. 

 Sometimes visitors call at our apiary, and 

 we have to apologize because of the grape- 

 vines that have grown over the hives, 

 and are sticking out in every direction, 

 or because of the long grass that has not 

 yet been mown. We generally get around 

 it by saying we have been " so very busy." 



