FIFTY YEARS AAIONG THE BEES 327 



CHOICE OF LOCATION. 



If I were to start in afresh, I would take some pains 

 to select a location as favorable for bee-keeping as pos- 

 sible. I didn't choose a location. I just began bee- 

 keeping where I was, with no thought of doing anything 

 in a commercial way, and grew into the business. I cer- 

 tainly would not start in afresh in a location with only 

 one principal honey-plant, and that sometimes a failure. 

 That w^as the condition here, clover the only dependence 

 for a crop, and that with too many off years. Of late 

 years, however, the fall crop is worth considering. 



HIVE-STANDS. 



I surely would not start in with such hive-stands as 

 I now have. The bottom-board resting upon so large 

 a flat surface makes a good place for moisture to lodge, 

 and favors rotting both bottom-board and stand. It 

 also makes a fine place for the large black ants to lodge 

 and honeycomb the boards. Something would be better 

 that allows a smaller area of contact. Tile or cement 

 might fill the bill. 



ITALIAN BEES. ' ; 



Through years of selection I have hybrids that are 

 hustlers. But they are cross. If I had it to do over 

 again I would look out more for temper, and I think I 

 would stick to pure Italian blood, even if occasionally a 

 hybrid colony should store most honey. If I had per- 

 sisted in breeding from pure Italian stock, I might have 

 just as good hustlers as I now have, with less tendency 

 to change, and with better tempers. 



EIGHT VERSUS TEN FRAMES. 



I changed from 10-frame to 8-frame hives, I think, 

 more than for any other reason because at that time it 

 w^as the fashion. I do not know that I got any better 



