30 EXPERIENCE. 



Having thus obtained easy access to the interior of 

 the hive, I next constructed a movable platform 

 within the hive, on which the combs were adjusted, 

 and the whole so elevated that the bees fastened the 

 combs to the top of the hive. This plan I found to 

 work well. 



These improvements, together with the chamber 

 for surplus honey, gave a hive well suited to the 

 wants of the bee, and hence a greater yield of honey. 



The annual mortality of bees in these hives, as 

 compared with those in common hives, I found to be 

 enough less to amply pay the diiference in the first 

 cost, thus making an annual profit thereafter. 



At the time of making the above improvements, 

 (fall of 1848) I had become the owner of eight 

 hives of bees, (farther additions were afterwards 

 made to my stock by purchase) all of which I trans- 

 ferred into the improved hive, and increased partly 

 by natural swarming, and partly by artificial divis- 

 ion. My success was such that in 1853 I sold up- 

 wards of 6,300 Ibs. of honey, at an average price of 

 eighteen cents per Ib. 



But, in 1854, an unprecedented drought occurred 

 throughout many portions of the United States, which 

 cut short the growing crops. The bee pasture was 

 so deficient that but few localities yielded any honey 

 for market, and in most places the bees laid up so 

 small a store that a large majority of them died dur- 

 ing the following winter. 



I escaped with the loss of about one-half of my 



