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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Nov. 22 1900 



for experiments on black brood. I regret that I can not 

 follow bee-keeping- extensively, but at present I don't feel 

 thus inclined. I trust the disease will disappear soon, so 

 we can safely keep bees again. 



Albany Co., N. Y., Oct. 15. 



The Golden System of Comb-Honey Production in 

 1900. and the Results. 



BV J. S. HARTZELL. 



AGAIN Tve are at the close of a honey harvest. Just 

 what the successes and disappointments have been 

 each must determine for himself. Reports upon the 

 whole speak of a g-enerally poor season. Some localities, 

 however, were highly favored, and an abundant reward re- 

 ceived for labor bestowed. Circumstances have been such 

 that while I had determined that 1899 would be an ending 

 of my apicultural experience, I was compelled to tight the 

 battles of 1900, and with what success I will again report. 



Before entering upon a summary of my crop report, I 

 will say that perhaps too much is written concerning sys- 

 tems in practice for the production of honey, yet we have 

 apostles in apiculture that, whatever is written or said by 

 them concerning the management of bees, is accepted as 

 a fact whether or not in real practice it is practical. When, 

 however, a new apostle arose in a village in Morgan Co., 

 Ohio, and portrayed thru the American Bee Journal in 1896 

 and since, a new construction of hive and management of 

 the colony therein for the production of comb honey, the 

 meager reports coming thru the various bee-papers, of suc- 

 cess or failure achieved in the practice of that system, have 

 led me to conclude that as it was in Christ's time thus it is 

 to-day, and the inquiry goes forth. What good thing can 

 come out of Nazareth ? Yes, verily. But had some of the 

 conceded bright lights in apiculture advanced the theory, 

 long ere this many would have given it a trial and reported 

 as to the success or failure achieved by its use. 



However, every system in vogue has its adherents and 

 advocates, whether leligious or political, and in the agri- 

 cultural field we find an abundant harvest of systems, 

 hives, etc., to select from, each having its admirers and 

 advocates, and I am one (possibly of only a few) who is glad 

 to have it said he accepted and has since been practicing 

 to considerable extent the theory promulgated by Mr. J. A. 

 Golden. Four seasons' trial, and each season in increasing 

 numbers, on any plan, should prove whether or not it is en- 

 titled to merit. 



I have, as a specialist in the production of section 

 hone}', practiced to some extent double tiering of 8-frame 

 hive-bodies, supers on top ; also at the time of swarming 

 caging the queen and placing her in a super over the brood- 

 nest, and cutting out queen-cells the sixth day and libera- 

 ting the queen, but evidently there is much depending upon 

 the construction of the hive, and I feel confident that Mr. 

 Golden has given to the world the best hive extant for sum- 

 mer as well as winter management. I feel confident it will 

 ultimately triumph over all opposition, and become as uni- 

 versal and popular as the Langstroth size of frame. 



At present my apiary consists of 53 colonies in Golden 

 hives, and 23 colonies in 8 and 10 frame dovetailed hives on 

 the general plan. The results for the season of 1900 stand 

 as follows : 



The 53 colonies on the Golden plan yielded 1,266 sec- 

 tions of completed honey — an average of practically 23 4-5 

 sections per colony ; 23 colonies on the general plan yielded 

 285 sections of completed honey — an average of practically 

 12,'j sections per colony. This, my fellow bee-keepers, 

 shows almost double in favor of the Golden plan. 



I will just say, while making a report, that of sections 

 not completed I made a selection of those nearest comple- 

 tion, filling seven supers, and extracted from others, and 

 by feeding back succeeded in having six supers entirely 

 completed, and the seventh mostly completed. The nights 

 turning cool prevented feeding to complete the seventh 

 super; and while succeeding in completing six supers, it 

 was evidently at extra cost, as weight and measure were 

 kept account of. These, however, are not accounted for on 

 either plan, being only an effort on my part to test whether 

 advisable to feed back to complete sections, and my verdict 

 is no. 



How many of the vast number of beekeepers who may 

 read this article will give the Golden plan a fair and im- 

 partial trial in 1901 ? And of those who have given it a 

 trial during the season of 1900, will they please hand in 

 their reports ? I will be glad to hear, whether favorable or 



unfavorable, as it may have a great bearing on the possi- 

 bility of inducing the incredulous to test a plan which, in 

 my opinion, will count in dollars and cents to the man who 

 adopts it. 



Now, in order to verify my appreciation of the Golden 

 system, I will make a proposition which will determine (if 

 accepted) my earnest desire to better if possible the condi- 

 tion of the vast number of bee-keepers in our country. I 

 would like, if possible, to induce Dr. C. C. Miller, A. I. Root, 

 Eugene Secor, Dr. A. B. Mason, and Chas. Dadant — five all 

 told, and who I believe are honorable men and unbiast — or 

 any other five of equal merit provided these gentlemen de- 

 cline, and whoever the editor of the American Bee Journal 

 may deem competent (as there are so many worthy ones) to 

 accept the following terms : Secure from Mr. Golden next 

 spring a complete hive with full instructions as to the man- 

 agement of a colony when placed therein, and give equal 

 opportunities with other colonies. Place a good colony in 

 the hive, and at the close of the season, if it proves unsatis- 

 factory (after having followed instructions closely), ship 

 the empty hive complete to me, by freight, and I will re- 

 fund the cost of the hive and pay the freight. Is this fair? 

 And will the proposition be accepted ? Thus you can de- 

 termine my unbounded confidence in the Golden system for 

 the production of comb honey, after an experience with it 

 for four successive seasons. 



Mr. C. S. Younkin, of this county, who I consider one 

 of the best informed and practical men . in apiculture in 

 western Pennsylvania, has determined, after the results 

 achieved during the season just closed, that he will fully 

 test Golden 's system during 1901, and I am rejoiced that he 

 will, as he is fully competent to decide the merits of any 

 system when tested by him. 



In conclusion, it just comes to mind that the worthy 

 late critic of the Bee-Keepers' Review, Mr. R. L. Taylor, 

 doubted my report as given in the American Bee Journal in 

 1898 (and possibly may doubt the one given herewith for 

 the season of 1900). But I want to assure him they are 

 facts, and cordially extend to Mr. Taylor an opportunity to- 

 test the Golden method, according to the same terms named 

 to the other gentlemen, and I hope the proposition will be 

 accepted. 



No. 5. Interesting Notes on European Travel. 



BY C. P. DADANT. 



WHILE traveling the short distance between Interlaken 

 and the famous Rigi, I saw a number of apiaries, 

 and this called my attention to the notable difference 

 in the hives used in the various countries of Europe since 

 the introduction of the movable frames has become general. 



The adoption of hives of modern styles was evidently 

 made in each country according to the information brought 

 to the public by the different specialists or inventors. The 

 Germans, who were the first to set aside the old straw skeps 

 in practical bee-keeping, are also, in my opinion, at the 

 present time the farthest behind as to the practicabilitj' of 

 their hives. Berlepsch and Dzierzon were their leaders, 

 and their hives are still in use. The Berlepsch hive, in- 

 vented and popularized over SO years ago, is very incon- 

 venient, for it has no movable top, but opens from the rear 

 like a closet, and the frames have to be drawn out back- 

 ward. But as it was so very much ahead of the old straw 

 skep, it was easily introduced, and its use is still continued 

 in many apiaries of Germany. The Dzierzon hive is very 

 elementary, having only movable top-bars instead of 

 frames, so that when you wish to remove the combs j'ou 

 must cut them away from the ends. 



The French apiarists have taken to half a dozen differ- 

 ent stj'les, among which theDeLayens is probably the most 

 conspicuous. This hive has frames very similar to the 

 King-American frames, from 20 to 24 in number, and no 

 supers. Thej' extract the honey from the side combs of the 

 hive. As a matter of course it is possible to fit supers upon 

 this hive, but it is then found to be too large in the lower 

 story. 



They also use the Sagot hive — a hive very similar to 

 the Langstroth, and which was invented by L'Abbe Sagot, 

 years ago, almost simultaneously with the Langstroth in- 

 vention, but was not put before the public until later. One 

 drawback of this hive is the shape of its supers, which are 

 triangular, and give but little room for surplus. The pound 

 section could not be fitted upon it unless an additional half- 

 story was added. 



They have also the Voirnot hive, and the hive introduced 

 by my father, which is, as the reader knows, a modification 



