58 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



for general use than the shallow frame. 

 Each hive is covered with a quilt made of 

 woolen goods, long enough to hang down 

 over the glass front. In winter this is 

 turned back over the hive, making a double 

 quilt. There are many other appliances 

 pertaining to the house apiary that time 

 will not permit to mention here. 



The house apiary, on account of the uni- 

 form temperature that may be maintained, 

 affords all the necessary conditions for 

 wintering bees safely on a small consump- 

 tion of food, without the labor, risk and 

 anxiety of putting then in a cellar, or pro- 

 tecting them on out-door stands. 



If at any time during the winter the 

 weather is warm enough to let the bees 

 have a fly, all you have to do is to let them 

 fly. But if you don't wish them to leave 

 the hive, go quietly into the apiary and drop 

 a lump of ice into each of the 4 ice boxes in 

 the corners of the room, up near the ceiling, 

 and your bees will remain quiet. 



For spring management of bees, the 

 house apiary is of great advantage. By 

 means of a boiler holding 5 or 6 gallons of 

 water, heated with a kerosine lamp, at a 

 very triflng expense, the temperature can 

 be kept at 70 to 80 deg., and thus breeding 

 promoted and continued, however sudden 

 and severe the changes of weather. Pro- 

 tection against the extreme heat of summer 

 is of little less importance than protection 

 against cold, and there is no method by 

 which it can be secured so perfectly and 

 with so little expense as by the house 

 apiary. It also offers superior facilities for 

 observing and studying the economy of the 

 hive. 



To the amateur bee-keeper it is indispen- 

 sible, and to the ladies it opens up a new 

 aversion of healthful and remunerative em- 

 ployment. 



Bee-keeping to be made profitable must 

 be reduced to a system that will yield a 

 regular average income through a term of 

 years, that may be depended upon, as a 

 means of support or source of wealth. 

 Much has been said about tiie profits of bee- 

 keeping, but it has never been demonstrated 

 to the satisfaction of capitalists tliat it 

 would be a perfectly safe investment even 

 at 10 per cent, interest on capita! invested, 

 after paying expenses. Settle this point, 

 and there are millions of capital in the 

 country that would be invested in it with- 

 out delay. 



With a view to having this system 

 thoroughly tested. I offer to put up "trial 

 apiaries" in different parts oi the country 

 free of expense beyond the actual cost of 

 material and labor, and as far as my means 

 will permit, am ready to forward the inter- 

 ests of bee-keepers in this or any other 

 way. J. S. COE. 



Montclair, N. J. 



Surplus Honey. 



BEAD BEFORE THE MICH. B. K. ASSOCI- 

 ATION, DEC. 31, 1876. 



In procuring surplus honey there are 

 three important facts not to be lost sight of, 

 that may be laid down as correct: 



I. Strong swaruies of bees. 



II. Suitable hives. 



III. Good foraging. 



The two first are largely under our con- 



trol, but the latter depends on the season 

 and location. 



It is not the largest number of swarms 

 owned by the apiarist that always suits him 

 best, but the greatest number of pounds of 

 pure comb honey that he can turn into cash. 



In raising and preserving strong swarms, 

 four things are requisite: 1. Bees must be 

 well wintered. 2. They must have plenty 

 of food, honey and pollen in the spring sea- 

 son. 3. All the empty, good worker combs 

 the queen and bees can occupy and cover. 

 4. The bees must be prevented from swarm- 

 ing. This, however, is sometimes one of 

 the most difficult tasks of the apiary, yet it 

 may be largely controlled. 



To prevent swarming three thing must be 

 strictly observed: 1. The hives must be 

 well shaded. The heat of the sun drives 

 them out of the boxes and hives, and they 

 soon make preparations for swarming. And 

 it often occurs where no previous prepara- 

 tions are made; after a few hours warm sun 

 and a sultry atmosphere, they will swarm, 

 leaving behind not the slightest trace of 

 any previous preparation — no attempt to 

 build a royal cell. 2. Hives must be well 

 ventilated. Ventilation should not only be 

 in front, but rear of the hive, as well as at 

 the top. I now use four fly holes at the 

 bottom of the hive, two in front and two in 

 rear (i. e. one at each corner), and in ad- 

 dition, in very hot weather, prop the lid up 

 at least one inch. 



When bees become veiy numerous in the 

 hive they will for necessity find some place 

 to cluster, or be forced to swarm. There 

 should be no lack of surplus box-room un- 

 der similar circumstances, where they can 

 cluster and store the fruits of their indus- 

 try. 



II. I shall say but little on the second 

 part of the first proposition— on Suitable 

 Hives. There has been so much written 

 and money expended in procuring patents 

 on hives, moth traps, etc., that every enter- 

 prising bee-keeppr, however limited his ex- 

 perience, is prepossessed with his own idea 

 of a hive. But at this stage of progressive 

 bee-culture, none can be found worthy the 

 name of an enterprising bee-master who 

 will attach to his hive an appendage called 

 a moth trap. 



To avoid making criticisms I will only 

 say what I like in a hive. And my prefer- 

 ences are in no way influenced by patent 

 rights, manufacturing or sale of hives. I 

 have not a dollar invested in that way. 

 After an experience (and. I think close ob- 

 servation) of 20 years, I prefer a frame at 

 least not over 7 in. in depth; 6 in. is prefer- 

 able. I have used 5, 6, and 7 in. in depth 

 and prefer 6 in. to any other; unless further 

 experience should demonstrate, under some 

 circumstance, 5 or 7 in. should have the pre- 

 ference. Everj^ one should construct his 

 hive to suit his own liking, oblong or 

 square, the depth is the only thing under 

 discussion, and one of most importance. I 

 may be criticised here, on the wintering of 

 bees in shallow frames, but of course my 

 success has been satisfactory, or the shal- 

 low frame would not get the preference. 



The wintering of bees in this latitude is 

 "a trade in itself," and one of no little im- 

 portance to the honey producer. In the use 

 of shallow frames, the capacity of the hive 

 is much greater for surplus honey. The 

 dimensions of the first and second story 

 should always be the same in length and 



