550 



AMEKICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Aug. 30, 1900. 



author adds that it is also used to dilute the honey and 

 moisten the pollen-grains. I believe too much is claimed 

 for this secretion. It certainly aids in digestion, for it 

 ■without doubt digests the nectar. I would hardly claim 

 more for it, at least with any great positiveness. 



Los Angeles, Calif. 

 (Concluded next week.: 



The France Quadruple Hive System. 



REFERRING to page 466, how does Mr. France fix the 

 entrance thru thechaflf packing ? 

 2. Why does he have upper and lower entrances ? 



3. Why use auger-holes instead of ordinary entrances ? 



4. How are the hive-bodies set on the bottoms ? Fac- 

 ing which way ? 



5. Does he use the ordinary hive-bottom — Danzy ? 



6. Are the two or three auger-holes sufficient to admit a 

 rush of bees in the honey harvest ? 



7. Does he remove the middle band for winter ? 

 Cook Co., 111. Herman F. Moore. 



[Mr. France kindly replies to the above as follows: — 



Editor.] 



1. A 2-inch space packt with chaff on all sides of the 

 hive. The entrance is thru 2x4 inch blocks, with entrance 

 cut thru the block. Lower entrance, -'4 -inch notch in the 

 block on the bottom-board. 



2. If only lower entrance, it may get clogged in winter ; 

 also is not entrance enough during the harvest season, 

 hence the upper entrance — 2-inch auger-hole, with button 

 nearly to close the same in winter. 



3. Auger-holes are easily made, and are mouse-proof in 

 winter. 



4. The hive-bottom is nailed on the hive when the hive 

 is made. One entrance on each side — north, south, east 

 and west. A 20-year record of each colony finds no prefer- 

 ence in direction of entrance. I have seen similar hive- 

 entrances to the east and west with good results. 



5. Standard Langstroth frame. 



6. Yes; during the honey-flow the upper entrance is 

 open, but nearly closed at other limes. 



7. The hive-band is removed only when the hives are 

 three stories high, during the honev harvest. 



Grant Co., Wis. ' N. E. France. 



Comb Honey— Harvesting-, Storing- and Crating-. 



BY I'. A. SNELL. 



IX harvesting or taking comb honey from our bees it is 

 important that we do it at the right time, especially if 

 intended for market, which is the case with the more ex- 

 tensive bee-keeper. In securing comb honey I practice the 

 tiering-up system, and have done so for over 30 years. I 

 can get more honey by this system than any other I have 

 ever tried, and they have been many. One super of boxes 

 is first given each strong colony run for comb honey, and 

 as more room is required the first cases are raised up and a 

 new one placed beneath, and at times during good seasons 

 the third case is added and placed next to the brood- 

 chamber. 



I go thru my apiary twice each week during a good 

 flow, and note the progress being made in the supers, as I 

 can quickly do, as every super has an observation glass 

 thru which I can at a glance see what is being done. All 

 completed supers are removed from the hives at each time, 

 freed of bees, and taken to the honey-room adjoining the 

 bee-yard. At this time, if more room is needed it is given 

 each colony requiring it. 



To have the honey in the best shape to sell, it should be 

 removed from the hives as soon as all is capt over. The 

 beautiful cappings are then white and very inviting. If 

 allowed to remain long after being capt in the hives the 

 cappings become darkened by the bees, and the appearance 

 is injured. 



As the summer harvest, which here is secured from 

 white and alsike clover, and bas.swood, nears its close, less 

 suiplus room should be given, for by the contraction of 

 space in the supers more combs will be completed than in 

 the larger space, and I desire to get all the finisht comb 

 honey possible. At the close of surplus gathering from the 

 above sources, all the supers should be removed from the 

 hives, cleared of bees, and stored in the honey-house. 



For the correct storing of surplus honey a warm, dry, 

 and airy room is essential. There should be windows at 

 least on two sides of the room to admit light and a good 

 circulation. The windows should be opposite, and I think 

 preferably at the east and west sides of the room. The 

 building should not be shaded, and should be painted a 

 dark red or some dark color, so as to draw heat. The hot, 

 dry air of summer will in motion do much to still better 

 ripen the honey. Screens of fine wire should be tackt on 

 the outside of the window-casing at the bottom and sides, 

 and a ;'s-inch space left at the top by full width of the win- 

 dow, and extend about one foot above the window. This 

 will allow any bees that may be carried in with the honey 

 to escape at the top. and -will also exclude all bees, flies, 

 and millers. 



The building should be one foot or more above ground, 

 so no dampness may be caused from beneath. The win- 

 dows should be left open on all pleasant days in summer. 

 Of course, the honey-room should be mouse-proof. A strong 

 rack should be made on which to place the honey, and pref- 

 erably at one side or end of the room, as it will so least in- 

 terfere with working room. The rack should be one foot 

 above the floor, so the air may freely pass under it. A row 

 of cases should first be put on, and on top of these at the 

 front and back strips one inch square should be placed ; and 

 this should be continued in the same way until the space is 

 filled to the ceiling of the room, if necessary. 



All of the finest honey should be stored in a body, and 

 that not so fine by itself. At the time the honey is taken 

 in I place it to one side, and the next morning clean off the 

 propolis from the supers and boxes, so far as we can, and 

 tier it up on the rack in the proper place. 



By storing the honey as above stated, the hot air circu- 

 lates freely all thru between the cases and boxes, just as it 

 should do to ripen the honey more fully. The honey is 

 thus left until time for crating to market, which is of neces- 

 sity after the close of the summer harvest. Some is crated 

 to supply my home demand, but the larger part is left until 

 September. 



The supers taken off at the close of the summer harvest 

 not completed are tiered separately. 



To handle and crate comb honey properly requires 

 much care. The delicate combs are very easily cut or 

 bruised, and a little carelessness will result in broken combs 

 and dripping honey. In crating comb honey I have a case 

 at my right hand on a bench ; at my left I place a honey- 

 case. A section-box is raised from the super, taken in the 

 left hand, and with the right hand I use the hive-opener 

 with which I scrape off the propolis from the box and place 

 it at one corner of the case, next the glass. The second 

 section is removed from the super, and placed next to the 

 first one in the case, and so I proceed until the case is filled. 

 The other supers of the same grade are thus emptied. If 

 any combs are cut, or in any way broken, such should not 

 be put in the case. A very few broken combs, if cased, will 

 make a dauby mess, as the honey will cover much of the 

 case bottom and drip thru, thus disgusting all who may in 

 any way later handle the honey. 



I usually case my nicest honey first, which I grade as 

 No. 1. That not so white in comb, or a little colored by the 

 bees, and combs not so complete, is styled No. 2. The 

 honey in the cases of each grade should be uniform in 

 quality. The honey next the glass in each case should be 

 no nicer than that in the central part. The honey should 

 in other waj's be cased so that to see the combs next the 

 glass, as it stands in the store or commission house, may be 

 an evidence of the quality of the whole case without further 

 inspection. When honey is so put up, the purchaser, 

 whether gi-ocer or consumer, can take it, and handle it comb 

 by comb with satisfaction in selling or using. Every bee- 

 keeper has his own reputation to build up and hold ; if he 

 expects good sales in the future, his goods should be as 

 represented by the honey in full view. 



The partially filled supers taken off at the close of the 

 summer harvest should be looktover, and all complete boxes 

 cased for sale, and those not so filled returned to the hives 

 at the opening of the fall honey-flow, if such comes. 



For the second grade I use very few uncapt combs, or 

 those combs not nearly all capt. I sell some of the par- 

 tiallj' capt combs to neighbors, or to those who call and may 

 see and prefer it at a lower price. Those not sold at the 

 close of the honey season are emptied and used the next 

 season. My honey-cases have two glass sides, which show 

 off the honey to good advantage, and aid sales. The covers 

 are tight fitting, and come over to the outside of the cases 

 thus keeping out all dust, etc. Carroll Co., 111. 



