.lUNE 15, 1915 



491 



Fig. 1. — First position in reversing the comb. This commences a coutiauous sweep of the frame, 

 which never allows the comb to be held flat, unsupported by the frame. 



for vertical expansion beyond a certain 

 limit of horizontal expansion. The outside 

 combs of the brood-chamber were entirely 

 neglected. I moved filled combs to the out- 

 side, an inconvenient manipulation with a 

 brood-chamber under a heavy super. Hence 

 I reduced the size of brood-chambers to 14 

 frames which I now regard as the limit of 

 expansion consistent with queen fertility, 

 and the limit of contraction for the solution 

 of problems. 



Viewing it in this way the Long Idea 

 principle cannot well be combined with the 

 supering method, and exclusive horizontal 

 expansion is contrai-y to bee nature; hence 

 excessive frame manipulating is required in 

 moving filled combs to the outside, substi- 

 tuting empties in the center to insure good 



work and prevent swarming; for bees will 

 swarm from a 24-frame Long Idea hive 

 with one-fourth of the combs empty. 



The solution of problems is possible only 

 with correct principles of beehive architec- 

 ture consisting solely of 8 inches of hori- 

 zontal expansion added to an ordinai-y ten- 

 frame hive Eight inches of horizontal ex- 

 pansion, at a trifling cost, changes a prac- 

 tical nonentity to a degree of efficiency 

 hitherto unrecorded in beehive methods. 



The method of increase outlined in the 

 foregoing demonstration is for a clover and 

 basswood location. In locations where the 

 main han'est comes in August and Septem- 

 ber it is advisable to form increase in June 

 by the method given. 



Birmingham, Ohio. 



HOW NOT TO DO AND HOW TO DO. HI 



Beginning in Beekeeping ; Handling Comlbs 



BY R. F. HOLTERMANN 



Perhaps there is no operation in beekeep- 

 ing which is conducted in such a diversity 

 of ways as the fundamental manipulation 

 of the hive — viz., the handling of the combs, 

 and there is no work in connection with 

 beekeeping which has to be done more fre- 

 quently. The most of our labor is done in 

 order to secure fruit from it, and that 

 being the case we do not wish to expend 

 any unnecessary exertion upon it. 



When a piece of work is not done very 

 often, we are apt to think the expenditure 



of the minimum of energy is a matter of 

 no importance; but let me say it is of very 

 great importance. Individual acts put to- 

 gether become habits ; habits in time become 

 principles, be they right or wrong; and the 

 result is they become the basis of action in 

 our lives. If my training has been neglect- 

 ed I have to correct that training; and if 

 I cannot do it in my own strength I can 

 draw on an exhaustless store outside of 

 myself. 



It may justly be said we are born with 



