1903 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



159 



THE BEST BEE HIVE. 



(Rev. C. M. llerriug.) 



ARTHUR C. MILLER'S article in 

 the June miiuhcr of tlie Ameri- 

 can Bee-Keeper, on "Hive Con- 

 strnetiou," attracted my attention. 



His theory in favor of the shallow 

 hive, founded on his personal observa- 

 tion and critical stud.v. is the most 

 convinciniT argument I have ever read 

 on this subject. But from my experi- 

 ence of thirty years in this business, I 

 have reached somewhat different con- 

 clusions. During- tfiis time of handling 

 and studying bees I have tried aliout 

 ever.v form of hive that has gained 

 public attention; and from the Kidder, 

 Langstroth and Quinby hives down to 

 the Heddou. Simplicity and Sweet 

 Home.I think I have given them a fair 

 trial: and I have long since concluded 

 that I did not Avaut. for my use, the 

 long, shallow" frame of the Langstroth. 

 nor the deep hive of Kidder, but would 

 choose a modification of both, and 

 thus strike the "golden mean," with a 

 leaning towards the Kidder. 



Early in my experience I bought a 

 hive and had dealings with one Carey, 

 of Colerain, Mass. — an old veteran in 

 the business — who. at one time, was 

 a work-fellow in the same shop with 

 Langstroth. and who at first shared 

 his views in shaping the bee-hive; but 

 in after years, of increasing wisdom, 

 he changed his miijd. and made his 

 hives with a shorter and deeper frame 

 — which he called the "Langstroth Im- 

 proved." In this hive the cavity for 

 frames was 14 inches long and 10 

 inches deep; and such is nearly the 

 capacity of the Swet't-Home, from 

 which I get my best returns. 



If it is true that bees, on the long 

 narrow frame, cluster between the en- 

 trance and their stores, making it 

 easier and safer, without breaking the 

 cluster, to move on their stores, than 

 in other directions, then, there is force 

 In the argument, and our friend Mil- 

 ler has made a strong point. But this 

 theory may be a question of some 

 doultt. In m.T case I rel.v more on 

 experience than on theory. The great- 

 est results I ever secm-ed, were from 

 a hive having a base that measured 

 14 inches long, 13 inches deep and 12 

 inches wide. And m.v next greatest 

 success was from a hive of about the 



same dimensions. In m.v observation 

 hive, which opens on three sides, and 

 carries a frame 13 inches long and 11 

 inches deep, I have noticed that the 

 honey stored for winter is found on 

 both sides and in the rear. 



.Knd on the approach of cold weather 

 I find the bees clustered, close up un- 

 der the blankets which are lifted one- 

 half inch above the frames. 



The honey is on tliree sides of them 

 sure, and when the hive is properly 

 protected with tarred paper, (as re- 

 commended by Miller) or old carpets,. 

 l)lankets. and such like, closely pack- 

 ing the hive, and then over all a cap- 

 three feet square to keep the colony 

 dry in summer and winter; with such 

 treatment and such conditions I have- 

 alwa.vs found complete success in win- 

 tering bees out of doors. Under these 

 conditions I think the bees, in winter, 

 can move on their stores as easily 

 and safely as when the frame Is 17 

 inches long, for their food is nearer 

 at hand. 



Brunswick, Me.. June 11, 1903. 



KINKS AND KINKLETS. 



(Arthur C. Miller.) 



SHEARS FOR CLIPPING QUEENS 



TO CLIP or not to clir), that's the 

 (luestion, and it all depends up- 

 on the clippers. Long .vears ago 

 I clipped all queen's wings, then ow- 

 ing to maiming some queens and from 

 other notions, I abandoned it, only to 

 resume after a few seasons. Clipped 

 (jueens are certainly an advantage, but 

 the work at best used to be a bother- 

 some .iob. almost enough to overcome 

 the advantages. I tried long shears 

 and short; pointed blades and blunt; 

 big knives and little, but until recent- 

 ly I never approached the work with 

 a feeling of jo.v. 



Some time ago I ran across a pecu- 

 liar pair of scissors that looked prom- 

 ising. The price seemed a trifle high, 

 but as a venture I bought them, and 

 now could I not get another pair I 

 would not part with them for twenty 

 times their cost. Clipping with them 

 is a real pleasure, and one is half in- 

 clined to tr.v fanc.v trimming of the 

 workers" wings just for the fun of it. 

 The handles three inches, blades one 

 inch long but their virtue lies in the 



