MAV 15, 1912 



815 



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Square Beeway Sections v. the 4x5 Plain 



1. In comparison, all points considered, for comb 

 honey, what advantage, if any, has the 4^ x 4^ x 

 m over the 4 x 5 x l^s section ? 



2. Is there a preference on the part of the retailer 

 of honey? Why? 



3. Is there a preference on the part of the con- 

 sumer? Why? 



4. Which size stands shipping best? Why? 



5. Do you consider it difficult to secure proper 

 grading weight in 4 x 5 x IJ'a sections and not have 

 honey project beyond the wood? 



6. Is there any complaint that the average per- 

 son handling honey bruises or sticks his finger 

 into the 4x5 more than the 4K? 



7. Is there any difference in price of honey, one 

 over the other? 



8. What section do you advise one to start with ? 

 Why? 



9. Does comb honey ship safely long distances 

 when packed in carriers, eight cases each? 



10 Is there any advantage in packing or placing 

 each section in a carton and using the heavier 

 shipping-case? 



11. What effect will the National Association have 

 in recommending the iU x 1% over or against the 

 4x5x1%? 

 Hagerman, N. M., Jan. 30. Henry C. Barron. 

 [1. This involves the consideration of plain sec- 

 tions and sections with beeways. A 4l{ x 4K x 1% 

 Is a beeway section, while the 4 x 5 x I-^s is a plain 

 section. The plain sections are cheaper in first 

 cost, a little easier to scrape and clean of dirt and 

 bee-glue, take a little less room in the shipping- 

 case, and, in the minds of a good many, present a 

 little nicer appearance, because the comb itself 

 comes out a little more nearly to the edge of the 

 wood. On the other hand, there are those who ob- 

 ject to plain sections because they are more diffi- 

 cult to get out of the shipping-case, more danger 

 of abrasing or darnaging the surface of the comb in 

 removing from the case, because fence separators 

 for the plain sections are more expensive than the 

 separators for beeway sections, and because, under 

 some conditions during a heavy flow of honey, a 

 small percentage of the honey will take on a wash- 

 board unevenness. This last objection is not a 

 very important one, because only about two to five 

 per cent of all the honey so produced will show 

 this. There will be a larger percentage dviring a 

 heavy flow of honey or in the case of extra fancy or 

 well-filled sections. 



The next question naturally revolves around the 

 shape or size of the section. The 4K siiuare is an 

 old standard dimension. While the 4 x 5 or 3% x 5 

 is a newer style that was introduced in New York 

 by Capt. ,1. E. Hetherington, it has come to be used 

 quite largely now, because any article of food 

 looks better, it is contended, that is taller than 

 broad. The tall section is only an effort to cater 

 toward making the package conform to all other 

 packages holding food on the market. Pound for 

 pound, a tall section looks larger than one that is 

 square: and in the case of the 4x5 the section 

 looks a great deal larger because it has a thinner 

 comb than that in the 1%. Again, it is argued that 

 the bees will build out and finish a thin comb fast- 

 er than they will a thick one. The experience of 

 many buyers is that the combs in the 4x5 sections 

 are more solidly attached than they are to the 4K 

 square. Part of this is due to the thinner comb 

 which the bees attach better, and part to the fact 

 that there are longer vertical sides for attachment. 



2. The answer to this question depends somewhat 

 upon the locality. In many parts of the East the 

 4x5 section is preferred to the square one, while in 

 the West the 4 !<i square section is used almost ex- 

 clusively. In many of the Eastern cities the deal- 

 ers prefer the 4x5 sections. They claim that, when 

 the square sections and tall sections are put side 

 by side, the tall sections will outsell the si|uare ev- 

 ery time. On the other hand, there are some deal- 

 ers who claim they notice no difference, and that 

 customers will buy whatever is offered them. 



3. This is partly answered in No. 2. As a general 

 thing, we think we may say that, of two sections 

 evenly filled, the customer will take the tall sec- 

 tion because it looks larger for the same money. It 

 is for this reason that the tall section brings a high- 

 er price In some markets than the square. 



4. It is our experience that there is not a great 



deal of difference: but the difference, if any, is a lit- 

 tle in favor of the 4x5 section. 



5. The answer to this question will depend some- 

 what upon what Is the proper grading weight. The 

 4x5 section does not run a full pound as a rule, 

 unless filled very full. In any case the comb should 

 not project beyond the wood if the proper kind of 

 fence separator is used. 



6. Yes, the 4x5 section is liable to be damaged a 

 little more than the iM square: but there is no ex- 

 cuse for an employee or clerk punching his fingers 

 into either section. 



7. The 4x5 sections in some markets in the East 

 bring more money than the 454. As a rule we 

 think the prices run about even. 



8. This will depend somewhat upon the locality 

 and the market where the honey is to be sold. We 

 would carefully ascertain what Is the general de- 

 mand in the nearest market, and adopt the section 

 that seems to be called for the most. 



9. Yes, providing plenty of straw is used under 

 the cases. 



10. Yes, the cartons have a tendency to cushion 

 each individual section so that it does not receive 

 the shock during shipment that it otherwise would. 

 We also think it is an advantage to u.se a stronger 

 and heavier shipping-case. For a further discus- 

 sion of this general iiuestion, see (jLkanings, page 

 361, of our .lune 15th issue. 1911. 



11. It will probably have some effect with a few 

 members: but in most cases the producers will be 

 governed by what Is called for in their markets, 

 irrespective of any recommendations made by any 

 bee journal or any beekeepers' association.— lio.] 



Swarming a Natural Instinct of the Bee 



To my mind the cause of swarming may be given 

 in a very few words. It is the instinct which God 

 gave the bees when he created them, in order that 

 they might increase. If the bees had never swarm- 

 ed they would not be scattered over all the face of 

 the globe to-day. 



Wm. Beucus, Aug. 1, 1911, says that the building 

 of queen cells suggests the idea of swarming. For 

 my part 1 would rather think that the idea of 

 swarming should account for the building of queen 

 cells. I do not believe that bees ever build a queen 

 cell before they have the Idea of swarming. 



It is certain that if they never build a queen cell, 

 and if naan lets them alone, they will never cast a 

 swarm. But when one sees queen cells started he 

 knows at once that the bees are preparing to cast a 

 swarm, so they must have the idea of swarming in 

 order to cause them to start queen celKs. Some- 

 times, of course, they build queen cells when they 

 wish to supersede the old queen, but not at all with 

 the idea of swarming. 



Chickasha, Okla. J. H. Flippo. 



Bees Slow to Enter Supers 



My bees will not store any honey in the brood- 

 nest, but want to go Into the super all the time. If 

 they fill the super next to the brood-nest, then they 

 want to swarm unless more room Is given: and at 

 the end of the season, in order to make sure of 

 plenty of stores, I have' to leave the extracting- 

 super on the hive. Then in the spring they begin 

 brood-rearing in this shallow super. How can I 

 make sure of winter stores In the brood-nest? 



.Shelbyvllle, Mo. C. H. Hollyman. 



I Your question is quite unusual, for most bee- 

 keepers find that their bees are slow about enter- 

 ing the supers, and persist in storing in the brood- 

 combs, thus cramping the queen for room. We 

 really believe that this tendency on the part of 

 your bees is a fortunate one: for by keeping good 

 prolific queens you can have j'our colonies up to 

 the maximum strength by the time the main flow 

 begins, fey raising the nearly completed super 

 and putting an empty one underneath, and also 

 providing some upward ventilation, if necessary, 

 during the hottest weather, we think you can over- 

 come to a certain extent the swarming. Of course 

 you can not prevent it all when running for comb 

 honey. 



At the end of the season remove the super; and 

 then in the fall, if there has been no late honey- 

 flow to provide winter stores, feed the necessary 

 amount of sugar syrup, and the bees will be obliged 

 to store in the brood-combs. — Ed.] 



