sheet iron, but tin I find strong enough for 

 three tiers deep and more easily cut and 

 formed. Tliere is no projections above or 

 below and tliey tier up bee-tight. The ob- 

 ject is attained 1st, of using sections lengtli- 

 wise; 2d, of the least possible surface for 

 propolizing; 3d, using only a few long sepa- 

 rators, costing a trifle only; 4th, of tiering 

 up bee-tight; 5th, to use same size section 

 as in wide Langstroth frames. 



Sides ^ thick and full width of 3 sections 

 and 17^ long. Ends J^ thick and full width 

 of sections and }-( less than width of hive 

 and nailed on to sides. Mine are 14J^. The 

 end supports are angle tin J^ in. bent at 

 right angles and tacked to ends strongly. 

 The two middle supports A, A, are made of 

 tin bent so as to be }^ in. apart, and to stiffen, 

 insert M strip of wood. I tried both sheet 

 iron and tin, but find the tin, if good, strong 

 enough to support three tiers. These are 

 fastened by a nail through the side; two 

 nails may be used. The wood greatly sup- 

 ports and stiffens the arch. 



The rack rests on two V shaped strips 

 across the brood-combs. As the middle 

 rests are ^ deep the separators have to be 

 matched J^ inch and they rest directly on 

 the middle support and are in place. 



Permit me to say good oiled cotton cloth 

 is a cheap material for summer quilts. 

 Brush on boiled oil on one side of stout 

 brown sheeting, first well dampened, as sai- 

 lors oil their clothing. I am trying it. Bees 

 will not gnaw it I think, and it will be tight. 



Charlottesville, Va., May 30, 1878. 



[This Rack, which friend Porter has so 

 kindly made drawings of for the Journal, 

 is intended for " tiering up," as well as to 

 be used in single story on the hive. It came 

 too late for the June number, or would have 

 found a place in it, so as to make it of more 

 value at this season. The cut will give a 

 good idea of the Rack. The middle and end 

 supports have been used by J. Oatman & 

 Sons for a year past, as well as some others. 

 As many are inquiring for a Rack to allow 

 of "tiering up," this will be interesting, 

 though we think that idea not so important 

 as getting our surplus honey in desirable 

 shape for marketing.]— Ed. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Items from California. 



We keep Prize Boxes and Crates in 

 stock at this office, and can supply orders, 

 without delay, lower than the lumber for a 

 small quantity can be bought for, in the 

 country. See prices on last page of cover. 



On Feb. 1st I had 18 colonies, 3 of which 

 were Italians (1 imported, 2 home-bred.) I 

 have now 31 good colonies Italianized; brood 

 is hatching and hives filling up fast. I had 

 no black drones; swarming so far, artificial, 

 I had several young queens to swarm several 

 times, but none to go away that 1 know of. 

 There has been some mixing of queens; one 

 to-day got out and mixed with another 

 swarm; the bees nearly deserted their hive, 

 even with eggs and young brood just started. 

 I saw the queen, but thinking her not mated, 

 or not sure, let her fly (the bees coming out 

 furiously), but the colony went into another 

 hive; I examined but did not find her, but 

 the other queen was all right. I found a 

 nucleus to-day without bees or queen, al- 

 though they had a laying queen a few days 

 ago and plenty of room. Semehow I have 

 lost a good many young queens; I think 

 mostly by bee-martins; though I have found 

 several outside of the wrong hive, dead. 1 

 had one hive to swarm out and return three 

 times. Previous to this they had a light 

 colored queen; since, they have a dark one. 



1 have had to replace quite a number of 

 queens that were lost. 



This has been a good season for honey, 

 though in re-queening I have lost part of its 

 benefit. Shall liave to use the extractor 

 soon. I expect to be able to use foundation 

 for comb, but delay in its arrival, have had 

 to let bees make their own comb. 1 have 

 introduced laying queens by smoking and 

 shaking queen in front, letting her run in; 

 also by smoking and shaking all bees from 

 the combs and then shaking queen with a 

 frame full of bees right among them; then 

 putting combs in place and closing hive, in 

 each case with success. I had a number of 

 dollar queens last season from the East, but 

 my imported queen is the cheapest; so far 

 she has beat them all. Most of my young 

 queens are from her. I think dollar queens 

 poor investments. I had 5 of one party; 2 of 

 two; 3 of one, and 2 of another. I have only 



2 left and one of them has to be built up. 

 I shall try imported queens this year. My 

 last swarm transferred in January, filled 

 their hive first and went into sections before 

 others that seemed to be in better condition. 

 Ilivts are mostly Langstroth. I don't pre- 

 tend to be an expert in transferring, but 1 

 can beat the sticks or Novice's clasps. I 

 use wire No. 16; first bent down one end }4 

 inch; then bend down to fit width of top bar 

 of frame; then to fit depth of frame* then to 

 fit under bottom bar the width of bottom 

 bar; then some pieces bent four square, 

 with the ends nearly meeting. These go on 

 ends of frame, the points or ends of the wire 

 fitting into the cells and spring together. 

 They do not take so much room as sticks; 

 bees do not mind them so much; there are 

 no strings to bother; they are removed by 

 pulling out bottom and slipping off the top. 

 If they are made to fit snugly, they make 

 neat work; the lower part keeps the bottom 

 bar from sagging. One set will last forever 

 if the frames are all alike. I use up all 

 pieces; with these it makes no difference 

 whether full of honey or not. or how warm 



