AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 467 



ExRACTiNG AT NiGHT. — Those With a limited amount of extr9,cting to do after 

 the flow, when robbers are plenty and honey thick, need not spend money for a 

 honey-house, or go into the house and daub the floors up. Extract out in the yard 

 at night. A piece of wire-screen over a strong colony, and the extracting chamber 

 cleared of bees, set over it and covered up on the previous morning, will keep the 

 combs warm until wanted. When a set of frames is finished, it can be at once re- 

 turned to the bees for cleaning up with little disturbance, leaving the tiering, if any, 

 until next day. Extracting by moonlight, with the crickets singing about you, and 

 an occasional croaking of frogs in the distance, is lovely. The honey will be cooled 

 by the sides of the extractor ; but if you cover up the receiving vessel and leave it 

 in the yard next day to warm up in the sun, the honey may be strained without 

 diESculty as soon as the bees stop flying. Arvada, Colo. 



THE BEST HIVE FOR W^IISfTERING. 



BY .J. W. PETERSON. 



As there seems to be a great deal now being said through the different bee- 

 papers on the subjects of large vs. small hives, wintering, etc., I beg leave to briefly 

 say a few words concerning my experience and observation. 



I fully agree with Mr. Bender (see September Nebraska Bee-Keeper), viz.: that 

 bees winter and spring much better in a deep hive than a shallow one. This is a 

 fact that I think is acknowledged by the majority of our prominent bee-keepers of 

 to-day. I further think that better results can be obtained, take it the year round, 

 with a frame deeper and shorter than the Langstroth, than with any frame as shal- 

 low as the Langstroth. 



I have used the American hive, and found that my bees came through the win- 

 ter without loss, and in splendid condition, while those of my neighbors who used 

 the Langstroth hive, wintered poorly, and their loss by spring dwindling was greater 

 than mine. The weather here in the spring is so cold and changeable, that it is 

 really harder on the bees than the winter is, consequently there is a great deal of 

 dwindling. I do not think, however, that this is just to the hive, as the frames are 

 a little too deep for easy handling, also the brood-chamber somewhat deep for pro- 

 ducing comb honey, especially in the supers ; and I do not like the idea of using 

 any part of the brood-chamber for surplus honey, either comb or extracted. 



I think a frame 13% inches long by 10 or 103^ deep, about right for an all- 

 purpose hive, at least I shall give it a fair trial. I also notice that some of my 

 friends who have been opposed to a deep frame, are thinking of trying a deeper one 

 than they are now using. I have never had any experience with the Heddon or any 

 hive so shallow as that, but I think with proper management it would be a good 

 hive for comb honey, but not for wintering, unless the frames be tiered up so that it 

 would make a deep hive ; and even then, it seems to me, it is longer than would be 

 advisable. 



I know some will say that a hive for successful wintering and springing is not 

 all that we are after. We are after the best results in the production of honey 

 (large yields, etc.) But I would like to ask them how they can expect to get the 

 largest yields of honey without having their bees winter and spring in the best pos- 

 sible condition, and be strong and healthy for the commencement of the honey-flow 

 (if there be one). 



I favor out-door wintering, every time. It is true, the bees may require a greater 

 supply of stores than when wintered in the cellar, but then I think it gives so much 



