THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



235 



comb. When the frames are filled you may 

 elevate the rear of the hive, but keep it 

 otherwise level. 



I have used eight of the above described 

 frames in a box hive 12x12 in. inside, 14 in. 

 deep, the frame let in a rabbet, cut in the in- 

 side, on 12 in. hives, % in. long, to receive 

 the % in. end of the frame and leave % in. 

 for ventilation and passage for the bees 

 over the frames, covered by a plain board 

 top. with two cleats and screw in each of 

 the two sides to hold it on. When boxes 

 for surplus honey are needed this top is 

 taken otf and two boxes, 6k' in. wide by 

 12K in. long on the outside, 63^ i.i. deep, are 

 put on, with cover to tit 8 in. deep, resting 

 on two cleats on two opposite sides, 1 in. 

 from top of hive, a cross stick to support 

 the comb. The two boxes will just closely 

 cover the top of the hive. This is a con- 

 venient and good hive for wintering bees, 

 and making box honey. 



I have used this hive very successfully 

 with black bees for many years, and always 

 have straight combs on these frames. 



Sandusky, O. J. T. Hobbs. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Wanted. 



A corner in the Journal to thank those 

 who have so kindly and frankly spoken of 

 the Bingham "cut-off" or direct-draft smok- 

 er. From some cause those writing have 

 compared it with the Quinby smoker. Such 

 comparison is entirely natural and in no 

 way detrimental to bee-keepers. Not every 

 bee-keeper, however, has a Quinby smoker, 

 no not one in ten of the bee-keepers ever 

 saw a Quinby smoker. 



The real comparison then is not with a 

 Quinby, but with the " chip-pan or Buffalo 

 chips" accross which nine-tenths of all the 

 bee-keepers blow their fragrant breath 

 laden with fire and smoke in sweet en- 

 deavor to subdue the nervous hybrids. The 

 question then is, is the smoker invented 

 and made by Bingham so great an improve- 

 ment on the above methods as to justify its 

 purchase ? 



I could not do the work required in my 

 apiary except with the most convenient 

 tools, and I think 1 speak advisedly when I 

 state that anyone using a Bingham smoker, 

 even for a single hour, in his own apiary 

 would never again put his nose to a " chip- 

 pan or Buffalo chips." T. F. Bingham. 



Abronia, Mich., June 12, 1877. 



For tlie American Bee Journal. 



Black and Italian Bees. 



My experience has been somewhat differ- 

 ent to that of Mr. P. Miller, as stated on 

 page 90. March number of The American 

 Bee Journal. 



Mr. M. states that he has .50 colonies of 

 black or native bees, and that a friend of 

 his a few miles distant has lUO colonies of 

 Italians, and that his (Mr. M's) averaged 40 

 lbs. of surplus to the colony of blacks; 

 while that of his friend was only about 25 

 Bbs. to the colony of Italians. 



Now let us look at both sides of this sub- 

 ject. Is is not possible that Mr. M. could 

 nave lived in a section of country that was 

 adapted to the growth of honey-producing 



plants and trees of vjirious kinds, and hav- 

 ing only .50 colonies and probably there 

 were not many bees besides his in that 

 locality — while his friend, living a few 

 miles distant, might have had a different 

 location for honey. I do not say it is as I 

 have stated, but we will suppose a case. 

 His 100 colonies of Italians placed in a lo- 

 cality not so favorable as others, would not 

 gather as much honey as would the blacks 

 m a plentier field. 



As Mr. M. speaks of his friend, I will say 

 something about my triends and neighbors 

 who keep bees. I will give names, and the 

 distance they live from me. 



Last summer, Mr. Martin, living k niile 

 south, had 4 stands of bees, 2 in Laiigstroth 

 and 2 in square box-hives; increased by 

 natural swarming to 9 stands, and got about 

 2.5 lbs. of surplus honey. 



Mr. Myers, 1 mile north, had 4 stands of 

 blacks, all in Laiigstroth hives; increased 

 by dividing and one natural swarm to 9, and 

 got about 30 lbs. of surplus. 



Mr. Miner, i}-i miles north, had 5 stands 

 of blacks; increased by natural swarming 

 to 9, all in Langstroth hives, but failed to 

 get any surplus. 



Mr. Darrah, % mile west, had 4 stands, all 

 in Langstroth hives; increased by naturai 

 swarming to 8, all blacks, and got about 30 

 lbs. of surplus. I could mention many 

 others. 



My experience is somewhat different to 

 that of Mr. Miller's. I started last spring 

 with 2 colonies of Italians and 4 blacks, 

 which were Italianized as soon as I could 

 raise my; queens. Then I raised queens, 

 and as fast as my colonies sufficiently in- 

 creased in bees, 1 took 4 frames with the 

 queen and adhering bees from a strong 

 colony and in this way made my increase. 

 I introduced a fertile queen to the old hive. 

 This I would do on a warm day, when the 

 bees were working hard, so that I took 

 mostly young bees to increase with. I in- 

 creased in this way from (5 colonies to 42, 

 with Italians, and got 125 lbs. of surplus 

 honey; which I think paid me, for I sold 20 

 stands last September, for $120, to one man. 

 My honey was weighed. I state nothing 

 but tacts. I worked for increase and not 

 honey. I started with 12 colonies this 

 spring. A. Usbobn. 



Appanoose Co., Iowa. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Introducing Italian Queens. 



My method for introducing Italian queens 

 is as follows: First find tlie black queen 

 and remove her, then lift a card of comb- 

 half out of the hive and give it a few sharp 

 jerks down and up, which will cause most 

 of the bees to fall to the bottom of the hive. 

 Wing off all that may be left on, and stand 

 the card to one side. Lift up another card 

 and treat it in the same way, and so on till 

 you have all the combs out, and all the bees 

 in the bottom of the hive. Now take half a 

 pint of thin honey or molasses, scented, 

 rather strong with peppermint or lemon, 

 and with a spoon spriuKle it all over the 

 bees; stir them up with the spoon so that 

 all will get a taste. Then open the end of 

 the cage containing the Italian queen, hold 

 it low down among the bees and let her run 

 out, and as she does so drop a little of the 

 same honey on her back and stir her up 



