38 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Jan. 19, 19CS. 



frame is not in common use, and they wish one which is 

 standard, that is, used by the people. Well, once upon a 

 time it was the custom to take the corn to mill on horse- 

 back, and when the bag was only half full to put a stone in 

 the top to balance the bag across the horse. One day a 

 stupid boy was too lazy (7) to find a stone, and so after 

 tying the bag divided the corn into equal portions, hour- 

 glass style, and thus threw it across the horse. " Here, 

 boy ", says his father, " why do you load up in that silly 

 way? Isn't the way your father, your grandfather, and 

 his father before him, carried corn to mill good enough for 

 you 7 Hustle now and find a stone, or I will put the cane 

 to you." 



One says that wax-worms are worse in hives with such 

 frames. All that I can say is that the wax-worm knows a 

 good, warm place when he finds it, and will take it every 

 time, if he can. 



It is stated that bees build less even comb. This seems 

 to me quite likely, though I have had many beautiful flat 

 combs built in such frames. At any rate, it is a minor mat- 

 ter since comb foundation is so generally used. It is surely 

 not an objection of sufficient weight to rule out such a 

 frame. 



Another says that such frames will call for new supers, 

 basing his suggestion on the supposition that the crosswise 

 frames will be of such size or number that the hive will be 

 of a different size. This does not follow, and hence the ob- 

 jection can not hold. 



Too short for brood-combs, says another. Why 7 My 

 crosswise frames are 10 by 12 inches, and 11 in number, and 

 they seem to work all right. 



Too short for outdoor wintering. Yes, indeed, if hung 

 lengthwise and free, but not otherwise. Try it and be con- 

 vinced. 



More frames to manipulate. This objection is made on 

 the ground that the old size of hive-body is still used with 

 the entrance at the narrow end as before, and is a reason- 

 able objection. It is true that more time is taken in going 

 through 12 frames than in handling 8 or 10, but if one 

 handles bees as little as he needs rather than as much as he 

 is moved to, I think that he will find little trouble with the 

 extra number of frames. I find, too, that I handle prac- 

 tically no more, for it is not necessary, as a rule, to handle 

 more than three or more frames for nine out of ten purposes 

 in manipulating frames, and the smaller the frames the 

 easier. 



Interferes with free passage of bees. Prove it. If one 

 will study the bees in an observatory hive he will see much 

 that will lead him to believe that this objection is without 

 foundation. The only time when bees need extra passage 

 is when honey is coming in rapidly. At such times sup- 

 posedly the bees find a readier passage through the hive by 

 traveling on the end-bars. So, once it was believed that 

 the earth was flat. Space will not permit me here to go into 

 details to show that this objection is utterly without 

 weight. I can only deny it with the assurance of one who 

 has seen proof to the contrary. 



It gives the bees less chance to ventilate the hive. This 

 objection would condemn the crosswise frame if I had not 

 found a way clear to get around the difficulty. By having 

 the space below the frames about an inch deep in front and 

 decreasing as it goes back till it is a scant bee-space under 

 the last frame, ample opportunity is given the bees to ven- 

 tilate their hive. Mind you 1 gives the bees opportunity to 

 ventilate the hive themselves, does not allow Nature to do 

 it the very time when the bees don't want it done ; for that 

 is just what the free-hanging frame, which is lengthwise, 

 does. 



By far the greatest number of those who answered the 

 query on page 468, raised the objection that such a style 

 of frame would not allow the tilting of the hive forward to 

 let the water out. Well, I always was opposed to this tip- 

 ping-forward plan, for, to my mind, the hive ought to be 

 level all around, but the water is objectionable, and, for- 

 sooth, how can you get rid of it except by tilting the hive ? 

 It really ought to make a thoughtful person smile to read 

 this objection. If the crosswise-frame is a thing of value 

 shall we let such a little difficulty prevent our adopting it ? 

 In my own hives I simply slope the bottom-board, as will 

 be seen from what I say above in regard to space below the 

 frames, and I have the satisfaction of seeing my hives 

 stand up straight like my house. By the way, why not tilt 

 your house to keep the rain from getting into the front 

 door? 



Now it is really unkind to make fun at all, for do we 

 not know that nearly all of those good brothers were asked 

 to answer a question concerning which they had only opin- 



ions without experience ? Listen to what one who has had 

 the experience says : 



"R. C. Aikin (Colo.) — Practically none. I have used 

 extensively such in the past ; they are better for nearly 

 every purpose than the long Langstroth frame. They cost 

 a little more, but that is a very small item. First cost is a 

 trifle if it gets better results later. Without a detailed argu- 

 ment, let me say that I know short frames are all right for 

 results in breeding, and the super arrangements can easily 

 be adapted." 



Thus speaks one who knows. Such a statement should 

 have great weight, and should carry conviction to the ex- 

 tent of causing many to try a few hives the coming season 

 with such frames. New London Co., Conn. 



(Concluded next week.) 



=\ 



®urv Sister 

 ^ccKccpers 



Conducted by Emma M. Wilson, Marengo, 111. 



Paste for Rough Skin. 



J 



For rough, harsh skin of arms and shoulders mix a 

 quarter pound of unsalted lard, which has been washed in 

 rain water and then in rosewater, with the yolk of an egg 

 and a tablespoonful of extracted honey. Add enough oat- 

 meal to make a paste. Spread on the arms and leave for 

 an hour. — Chicago Daily. 



Starting in Bee-Keeping. 



Here is a clipping from the woman's department of the 

 Chicago Daily News, being a reply to an inquiry, which is 

 remarkable for the wholesome moderateness of the expecta- 

 tions it arouses : 



" I kept bees for many years, and at present have about 10 colo- 

 nies. Twenty-tive dollars would buy about 6 colonies at the cheapest. 

 Then it would require about 115 worth of supplies— that is, supers 

 and sections tor the bees to store the honey in, to say nothing of the 

 work. In a very good season they would average about 70 pounds per 

 colony. 



" The last three years the bees had one good season. In other 

 words, every third year is a failure. Some winters bee-keepers lose 

 from 30 to 50 percent in bees. To make a living at bee-keeping would 

 require 125 to 150 colonies, which would cost, including all tools, ex- 

 tra hives, supers, etc., 8800 to $1000, besides a number of years' ex- 

 perience. One can't get enough of that." — A. H. O. 



Hiving Bees with a Shot-Gun "—Pleasures of 

 Bee-Keeping. 



I have been a reader of the Ameican Bee Journal for 

 nearly two years. Having charge of an apiary of from 20 

 to 40 colonies, my experience with bees has been both in- 

 teresting and profitable. Our apiary produced 2300 pounds 

 of comb honey, mostly in one-pound sections. 



There are many interesting items in the American Bee 

 Journal. The article in Dec. ISth number, on '-Hiving 

 with a Shot-Gun ", excels anything I ever read in the way 

 of hiving. For marksmanship it is beyond parallel — he 

 must have telescopic vision to be able to give the dimen- 

 sions of a twig 50 feet from the ground, and to arrange the 

 hive so accurately that the cluster fell in exactly the right 

 place. Verily, this is a remarkable age. Bee-culture opens 

 a field of varied and practical knowledge, the pursuit of 

 which is one of the great pleasures of life. 



We anticipate much from our apiary the coming season. 

 1 am one of the bee-keeping sisters, although not enrolled 

 as a member. L. Fbes. 



Davis Co., Iowa, Jan. 3. 



Sometimes the written description of a thing makes it 

 appear more difficult than it really is, and it is just possible 

 that if you had been an eye-witness of Mr. StoUey's per- 

 formance it would not appear so remarkable, although cer- 

 tainly a novice would hardly succeed as he did. I don't 

 know how many hunters there are with you, but " in this 



