84 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



REPLIES by Prominent Apiarists. 



Sections Parallel with Frames. 



Query, No. 11.— Does it make any differ- 

 ence whether the sections run cross^vise of 

 the brood-frames when using a case on top 

 for comb honey? In most cases the sections 

 run parallel with the brood frames ; if it 

 makes any material difference, please state 

 why I can use the sections crosswise to the 

 best advantag-e on the hive I use. Can we 

 not dispense with wired frames by using 

 reversible frames ?— Unlonville. Ont. 



Dk. G. L. Tinker replies as fol- 

 lows : " It does not matter whether 

 the sections run crosswise of the 

 brood-frames or parallel, if a bee- 

 space exists between the sections and 

 frames. Sections should, however, 

 run parallel with tlie brood-frames 

 ■without a bee-space ; but it is imprac- 

 ticable to place sections or section- 

 cases directly on the brood-frames." 



Prof. A. J.Cook remarks as fol- 

 lows : " With a honey-board and 

 double bee-space, I cannot think that 

 it makes any difference. I have tried 

 sections parallel with brood-frames 

 and crosswise. Tlie bees work the 

 same in either case. Convenience 

 should guide us. I think that we 

 shall still like the wired frames. We 

 thus prevent all vexation from sag- 

 ging, warping and dropping of the 

 foundation." 



G. M. DooLiTTLE says : "It makes 

 no difference wtiich way the sections 

 run to the brood-frames where the 

 Langstroth bee-space is used, as I 

 have repeatedly proven to my satis- 

 faction. Where a continuous pas- 

 sage-way is used, necessity compels 

 lis to place the sections parallel with 

 the brood frames. I cannot see how 

 reversing the frames can help us any 

 regarding the use of wire in frames 

 of foundation." 



J. E. Pond, Jr., replies thus : "My 

 impression is that sections will be 

 entered more readily when they run 

 parallel with the brood-frames. There 

 certainly will be less obstruction 

 when they so run, and this. I .should 

 suppose, would tend to start the bees 

 up. I^Iy experiments, last season, 

 with continuous passage-ways, showed 

 me that they were more freely used 

 than were the ordinary passages 

 either into crates or wide frames, and 

 convinced me that the less obstruc- 

 tions we have to the surplus recepta- 

 cles, the more quickly and freely will 

 they be occupied." 



Du. C. <'. Miller answers thus: 

 •' I prefer sections parallel to brood- 

 frames because of treer access to sec- 

 I ions, and so that the hive can slant 

 somewhat from front to rear." 



W. Z. Hutchinson remarks tlius : 

 •• It is desirable that tlie hive should 

 be a trifle lower in front, if for no 

 other reasons than that the rain will 

 not run into the hive, and that the 

 condensed moisture from the bees' 



breath may run out. It has also been 

 asserted tliat the bees will build their 

 combs straighter when the back end 

 of the hive is raised a little. If the 

 front of the hive is lower than the 

 back, and the brood-frames extend 

 from front to rear, the sections must 

 of necessity be parallel with the 

 brood-frames. If the hive is level, I 

 do not know that it makes any dif- 

 ference so far as the amount of honey 

 secured is concerned, whether the 

 sections extend crosswise or are par- 

 allel with the brood-frames. Wires 

 are needed before the foundation is 

 drawn out, very much more than after 

 the combs are finished, hence, reversi- 

 ble frames will not enable us to dis- 

 pense with wires when using comb 

 foundation." 



James Heddon replies thus : " As 

 my honey-board is adjusted to the 

 brood-fraines, I can use sections run- 

 ning ci'osswise of the brood-frames, 

 with no disadvantage except that the 

 hive must always set plumb both 

 ways ; and I much prefer to have it 

 pitch toward the entrance. The use 

 of reversible frames will not dispense 

 with the need of wires, for holding 

 the foundation in place, when being 

 drawn out bv the bees." 



Dr. J. P. H. Brown says : " I think 

 that it makes no material difference. 

 In fact I prefer them to run cross- 

 wise, as this arrangement admits of 

 easier access by the bees." 



Sections Partly Filled with Comb. 



Query, No. 12.— I have a number of sec- 

 tions partially filled with comb. Should the 

 supers be entirely filled with them, or partly 

 filled with new sections ? If the latter, 

 what part of the super is the best location 

 for the sections containing comb V Will the 

 honey be us good uiid salalile if produced on 

 those old c(jmbs as if stored on new comb 

 foundation 'i — Kockford. 111. 



James Heddon replies thus: "If 

 no separators are used, I should fill 

 the supers with all combs of as near 

 the same size as possible, keeping 

 combs and foundation and sections by 

 themselves. If you put them side by 

 side, you will be likely to get bad and 

 bulging sections of honey. Your 

 comb honey will, as a rule, look best 

 stored in the sections containing new 

 foundation ratlier than combs." 



Dr. C. C. Miller says : " If the 

 comb is bright and clean, it is better 

 than foundation. Supers may be 

 filled with them and put on at the 

 time of the heaviest honey-flow, or 

 some of them may be put in the cen- 

 tral part of the supers first put on." 



W. Z. HuTcniNSON remarks thus: 

 " Unless separators are used, the su- 

 pers sliould be entirely tilled with the 

 partly filled sections. If early in tlie 

 season, and separators are used, and 

 it is desirable to get the bees started 

 in the sections as soon as possible, put 

 them in the centre ; if in the height 

 of the season, put them in the outside 

 tiers, and the whole case of sections 

 will be finished more nearly at the 

 same time. If the combs are new 

 and white, the honey will be of the 

 first quality." 



G. M. DoOLiTTLE answers thus : 

 " Divide ttie number of sections filled 

 with comb by the number of colonies 

 which are to produce comb honey, 

 giving each an equal number which 

 should be placed in the centre, filling 

 out with new sections. Honey in 

 sections produced with these combs, 

 is generally ' a little off,' regarding 

 color and tenderness of comb, but the 

 honey of itself is as good as any." 



Prof. A. J. Cook replies thus : 

 " Use all with comb if they are to be 

 had. If the comb is white and nice, 

 they will be beautiful." 



Dr. G. L. Tinker answers as fol- 

 lows : '■ Where separators are used, 

 I should place the partly filled sections 

 alternately witli the new ones, but if 

 no separators are used, I should place 

 all the partly filled sections in cases 

 by themselves. The honey stored in 

 the old combs will be just as good and 

 salable as that in the new, if they 

 have been properly cared for. To 

 keep dust off from them, pack them 

 in the section-cases and store them in 

 a room where there is little dust fly- 

 ing. To keep them perfectly clean, 

 wrap them up in wrapping-paper or 

 old newspapers. If there is any 

 honey left in the combs, they must be 

 kept where the mice cannot get at 

 them." 



Dr. J. P. H. Brown remarks thus : 

 "I should alternate the partially 

 fllled sections with new ones filled 

 with comb foundation. If the combs 

 are white and clean, the honey stored 

 in them will be just as good." 



Temperature and Hibernation. 



Query, No. 13 — At what temperature 

 should bees be kept so that they will hiber- 

 nate 'i Is it advisable to keep them at such 

 a temperature that they will hibernate ?— 

 Woodstock. Ont. 



Dr. C. C. Miller answers thus : 

 "The quieter bees can be kept the 

 better — somewhere from 3.5° to 55° ; 

 to be determined by actual observa- 

 tion in each case." 



G. M. Doolittle replies as fol- 

 lows: " Forty-two to 45° is the best 

 temperature for bees to pass the win- 

 ter in. According td the meaning of 

 the word 'hibernate,' I do not see 

 how it can be applied to a colony of 

 bees, for the centre bees of a colony 

 are as lively in winter as in summer. 

 Quinby says, on page 284 of his 

 'Mysteries of Bee-Keeping' (1865), 

 when speaking of a colony of bees in 

 winter, ' those on the outside are some- 

 what stiffened with cold, while those 

 within are as brisk and lively as in 

 summer.' In this as well as in most 

 other things I find Quinby correct." 



W. Z. Hutchinson says: "It is 

 advisable to keep bees at that degree 

 of temperature at which they are the 

 most quiet, and this degree is not al- 

 ways the same." 



J. E. Pond, Jr., answers as fol- 

 lows : " I conclude that each colony 

 must be a law unto itself. I believe 

 it advisable to keep the bees in a 

 hibernating state, or as nearly so as 



