KOVEMBER 15, 1915 



better accomplished with the (on-frame 

 hive. We now have far more of the ten- 

 frame size — several yards contain no other. 

 In conclusion I want to urge that manu- 

 facturers do not change the old standard 



outside width of 16 inches for the ten-frame 

 hive ; but if % to ^ inch more inside width 

 is needed, make tlie hive sides of 13-16 or 

 •;4 inch lumber. 

 Meridian, Idaho. 



A WINTER-CASE HOLDING A WHOLE ROW OF HIVES 



BY R. C. GIFFORD 



Recently a number of the " big fellows " 

 of the beekeeping world have been advocat- 

 ing the use of square winter-cases which 

 protect four colonies. In these cases two of 

 the colonies have to face either east or 

 south, and the other two north or west. As 

 one of the very " little fellows" of the bee- 

 keeping world I can't help feeling that this 

 plan would be anything but successful in 

 the hands of the average folks like myself. 



In tliis locality there is a lot of damp cold 

 wind during the winter. We use the expres- 

 sion " It chills you to the backbone " to de- 

 scribe it. I'm afraid if my bees had to sit 



The loll 



ib chtap, auj lius ahv;i.vs sivcii perfect satisfaction 



with their open entrances toward the north 

 or west all winter this wind would chill 

 them to their backbones, and I sliould have 

 nothing but some frames and hives when 

 spring came. 



Another tiling to be considered is the 

 peace and comfort of the beekeeper. I 

 think the majority of beekeepers have bees 

 because they really like them. Well, imag- 

 ine going to your warm comfortable bed 

 some night with half of your hives facing 

 the north and west, when the wind is moan- 

 ing around the house and even driving the 

 snow through the tiny cracks around your 

 bedroom window. You would not enjoy the 

 night's rest, would you? 



I have alSvays used the long case recom- 



mended by several. It has always given 

 jierfect satisfaction. It is also much cheap- 

 er because any kind of boards can be used 

 for the top and sides. Of course the two 

 ends for the case are built for that purpose, 

 and nailed securely, because the long boards 

 are all fastened to them. The ends I use 

 are 28 inches wide by 23 high, and have a 

 three-inch slope toward the front. 



The tar-paper cover is held in place along 

 the north side and corners of the south side 

 by nails driven through long narrow boards. 

 Weights hold it securely on the top. With 

 this method, if the paper is put on and 

 taken off during the 

 middle of the day 

 while it is soft from 

 the sun's rays, it can 

 be kept in good condi- 

 tion for several years. 

 Then, too, the paper 

 stays where it belongs. 

 The first year, I nailed 

 the pr.per on securely 

 with the nails which 

 come with it. In the 

 middle of the winter 

 we bad a severe bliz- 

 zard, and the wind 

 managed to get under 

 that stuff and tear it 

 all to pieces. Of course 

 it had to be replaced 

 immediately, so the 

 entire family had to wade out among the 

 snowdrifts and literally sit on the paper 

 while I fastened it down with weights and 

 nails driven through lath, 



WINTER STORES. 



On the first frosty morning after the 

 honey-flow is over, the colonies are weigh- 

 ed. Two people do the work because it is 

 too heavj^ and awkward for one. The colo- 

 nics are weighed, one at a time, on platform 

 scales which are trundled wherever desired, 

 on a wheelbarrow. Each colony has to weigh 

 35 pounds after the weight of the hive- 

 body, bottom-board, and cover are deduct- 

 ed. If it doesn't, sugar syrup is fed. 



When this work is done on a cool morn- 

 ing the bees are not disturbed so much, and 



