50 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



venture to assert, will uot want a chaff 

 hive, even if he is in a milder locality 

 than Canada. 



To those making bee-keeping a mere 

 side issue, and not having an exten- 

 sive apiary, I would say, take a chaff 

 hive. Your bees will always be pack- 

 ed, and as you belong to the class that 

 often does not protect them when it is 

 essential, you will be safe. Your col- 

 onies will be protected from the sum- 

 mer heat as well as the winter cold, 

 and they will be less liable to swarm, 

 and of comb honey, will produce a 

 more even article. 



Hives need not be handled much in 

 swarms. Today we largely hive swarms 

 in swarm catchers and the like, and 

 carry the swarm to the hive, not the 

 hive to the swarm. 



The disadvantages to the extensive 

 bee-keeper are greater than the above 

 advantages, therefore we must adopt 

 some other method of protection. The 

 cheapest way of course is in clamps. 

 I have about nine colonies in clamps, 

 but probably not the best. Indi- 

 vidual clamping is better, and to facil- 

 itate storage room when not in use, I 

 like the four sides in two, being join- 

 ed at opposite corners, and made to 

 hook together at the loose corners thus : 



I think little is gained by under- 

 neath packing, but the sides and top 

 should be well protected. When set- 

 tled warm weather comes, the outside 

 cases may be removed, the two pieces 

 comprising the four sides unhooked 

 and placed in one another, and kept 



until required. If I could not arrange 

 to pack otherwise, I would add a "half 

 story, or a whole story even, and put 

 a cushion of sawdust or forest leaves 

 above the frame. Of course I do not 

 ignore the fact that spring dwindling 

 and poor wintering are often intimate- 

 ly connected, but that does not alter 

 the importance of spring protection. 

 Healthy colonies may sutler more or 

 less, and we have a right to do the 

 most in our power for enfeebled col- 

 onies, just as much as we have a right 

 to protect one sick and feeble in the 

 family. 



Strong colonies to catch the earliest 

 flow is very important. It of ten means 

 a honey crop when the weak get none. 



Romney, (Jnt. 



[By a " clamp " is meant an outside 

 winter case, which is held together at 

 two corners by some sort of clamp or 

 clasp, while the other two corners are 

 nailed tightly. — Ed.] 



Advice to Beginners in Bee- 

 Culture. 



BY JAS. F. GATES. 



Bee-culture is a very profitable as 

 well as fascicating pursuit, yet in choos- 

 ing it as a profession a person must be 

 very sure he likes it above all other 

 trades, or he will not be very sure to 

 make a success of it. The trade a per- 

 son engages in is never to blame for 

 the failure of the person who has 

 adopted it. If you like your team you 

 will take good care of it; just so with 

 your trade, no matter what it may be. 



After having made sure you like 

 bee-keeping as a trade, make up your 

 mind to drive it well, and never let it 

 drive you. You may, and it is likely 

 you will, meet with reverses the first 

 few years, but the the time to cousid- 



