THE AMEEICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



235. 



[For the Americaa ] 



Hives, Transferring, &c. 



! Jouraal.] 



Mr. Editor : — Your correspondent, H.C. Dur- 

 borow, wishes me to expLain Low we make our 

 division boards so that bees can get into the 

 boxes, and how we make the entrances to the 

 boxes. Last season was the first that we used 

 the hive to which he has reference, and we have 

 not as yet had boxes filled. We prefer the use 

 of extra frames, which we empty with the " ma- 

 chine." 



We intend to try boxes on some of our hives 

 this season, however ; and have several plans for 

 accomplishing the desired object. 



Our frames run crossways of the hive, and of 

 course the boxes are to be put against the sides 

 of the combs. I do not think it necessary to re- 

 tain the division board, when boxes are used. 

 By leaving an opening in the end of each box, 

 the division board can be removed, and the ends 

 of the boxes supply its place. If boxes Avere to 

 be placed against the ends of the frames, I would 

 leave the end of each box entirely open. The 

 easier the access to tlie boxes, the better ; but 

 when they are placed against the combs with 

 ends open, the bees are apt to lengthen the cells 

 of the comb so that it will project into the boxes, 

 instead of starting new combs in them. I have no 

 trouble with queens laying eggs in them. 



He also asks — " Do you have a honey board on 

 top of your frames, during the summer ?" 



We have as yet used no honey board on these 

 hives, but think that the use of one would be an 

 improvement. If made out of slats, so as to fit 

 over any number of frames, it could be used to 

 better advantage. 



In regard to the best time for transferring bees 

 and coml)s to frame hives, there is much diversity 

 of opinion ; some preferring to perform the opera- 

 lion before, and some after, swarming. I have 

 tried both and think if I had a dozen swarms to 

 transfer this spring, I should do it as early in the 

 season, as lioney becomes plentiful enough to in- 

 fure the bees against consuming more than they 

 could gather. 



Do not try to make two swarms of one, when 

 transferring, even though you think there are 

 bees enough to warrant it. Better wait until they 

 get their combs all filled with honey and brood, 

 before making the division. 



For holding the combs in place in the frames, 

 when transferring, until fastened by the bees, 

 wc use clasps made of wire. Two to each comb, 

 passing around the frame from top to bottom, will 

 hold them- securely, occupy but little room, and 

 are easily removed. - 



I. F'. TiLLINGHAST. 



lacioryville, Pa., March 14. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



My Views of the Italian Bees. 



Mr. Editor : — It may perhaps be very easily 

 accounted for why we still find some persons who 

 claim to be intel'ligeut bee-keepers, making the 

 assertion tliat the Italian bees are no better in 

 any respect tlian the native or bhxck bees. The 



fact is, Ihey are ignorant of the matter in ques- 

 tion. In 1807, I purchased one Italian queen, 

 paying ten dollars for her in the fall of the year, 

 as late as the first of November. In January her 

 stock began to show, and by the first of May 

 there was not one Iblack bee to be found in the 

 hive. When I considered it time, I swarmed 

 them ; sometime in Juno., About the last of 

 August they threw olf a very large swarm. All 

 wintered finely. 



The past season was one of the poorest for 

 bees in our section, that I ever knew. I liad 

 wintered one hundred and fifteen swarms. In 

 the spring of 18G9 they were in the best condi- 

 tion possible. On the first of April many of my 

 stocks were in fair condition for dividing, plenty 

 of honey and bees ; but by the first of May they 

 were on the decrease ; on the first of June groov- 

 ing worse, and in July they were in a starving 

 condition. No swarms from my native bees. I 

 swarmed most of my Italians artificially ; some 

 of them twice. Young swarms filled their hives. 

 Old stocks had plenty of honey in July, and 

 were gathering it very fast when my native bees 

 had to be fed. I can prove by reliable persons, 

 that on several occasions one of my Italian stocks 

 was working and flying more briskly than 

 fifty stocks of my black bees. Of the natives 

 not one stock in twenty has honey enough to 

 carry them through the winter without feeding. 

 I do not consider Oswego county a first-rate 

 section for bees. 



I was not aware that bees were such short- 

 lived insects. Very likely in a good season, they 

 would live longer ; but what sayyou, bee-men, 

 to this fact. The last of August, i introduced arf 

 Italian queen in a very populous colony of native 

 bees, and in forty days from the time I intro- 

 duced her not a black bee remained in the hive, 

 Avhich was then well stocked with Italians. 



I have about fifteen stocks of Italian bees, and 

 intend to Italianize all that I succeed in winter- 

 ing. I do not wish to keep a swarm that is not 

 pure Italian. After keeping bees thirty-five years 

 and experimenting with them, I am willing to 

 risk the change. The Italians are more quiet to 

 handle, better workers, less inclined to rob, and 

 are beauties. I am satisfied with them. The 

 hybrids are different in some respects. They are 

 good workers, but somewhat ill-tempered and 

 troublesome to handle. 



I have just heard a singular story from my 

 native State, Massachusetts. An old neighbor 

 was at onr place, and speaking of Italian bees, 

 said — " We don't exactly like the Italians, as 

 some of our bees were robbed by them last fall." 

 " Were they owned near you ?" " No, not 

 nearer than six miles. " I tliought probablj' they 

 were owned by Mr. Gary or Mr. Alley. If either 

 of these gentlemen has bees that will go six 

 miles after honey, I would like to engage fifty- 

 queens, as that goes far beyond my bee experience. 



Fulton, W. Y. W. C. Newton. 



Bees are always more irascible when their hives 

 are disturbed after it is dark ; and as they cannot 

 see where to fly, they will alight on the person of 

 the bee-keeper, who will be almost sure to be 

 stung. — Langstrotli. 



