THE AMERICAN BEE JOUENAL. 



167 



fts to secure the utmost benefit Mievefrom — wliilo 

 at the same time combinin,!;' simplicity, clicap- 

 ncss, and dunibililj' in their eonstrnetion. 



To be en!ibl<;d to form n jndgmont from per- 

 sonal ol)serv:ilion and nllimatciy make a salis- 

 faetory choice, as avcU as to atrord otliers an op- 

 portunity to s^'e hives of various construction in 

 practical use, 1 liavc hitherto adhered to the 

 chief forms of hive employed in Germany and 

 in this country. This has undoubtedly proved 

 n source of trouble in my apiarJ^ I have in use 

 four difFerent forms of Dzierzon hivc^s, tlioui^h 

 all constructed on one fandamental principle. 

 T have increased the number of my double or 

 twin hives, since I have become practically ac- 

 riuainted wilh the advantage they oiler. Every 

 desirable operation can be readily performed 

 ■with t'.iem, and thej'' can be enlarged or dimini- 

 slunl. as the size of the colonj' therein may rc- 

 ([uire. The condition of the bees and "th.^ir 

 stores may at any time be ascertained; and stocks 

 can be -wintered in them with entire safety, as I 

 have sati-^factorily ascertained, on two years' 

 trial, by llie preservation therein of several Aveak 

 colonies with Italian queens. I found these in 

 a very gratifying condition in the spiing, with 

 very few dead bees. I have improved this form 

 of hive, by the introduction of a mode of venti- 

 lation, to counteract the excessive heat of our 

 summers ; and thus, I conceive, have better 

 adapted it to the requirements of tliis climate. 



I have also stocked six of Langstroth's impro- 

 ved hives with the earliest natural swarms ob- 

 tained last spring ; which have done well. So 

 far as I have observed, I regard these hives as 

 best devised among the numerous forms presen- 

 ted, and thus, in connection with cheapness, 

 calculated to secure the approval of bee-keepers. 

 As the lower part of these hives did not appear 

 to me sufficiently thick so protect the bees from 

 the effects of cold in our severe winters, I ha^e 

 covered this part with a layer of straw and 

 cornstalks, frona the bottom up to the projecting 

 top — desiring to test fairly this mode of winter- 

 ing. 



I would remark in addition that I winter all 

 my stocks, well protected, in the open air ; en- 

 tertaining misgivings as to the result of buryir.g 

 bees in this region of variable temperature^ 

 wdiere heat not seldom suddenly penetrates in 

 the ground. Burying bees, however, may be a 

 very good mode of wintering in more northerlj- 

 localities. 



I haA'C the satisfaction to state that of the 

 complaints formerly urged, that bees are injuri- 

 ous to vineyards, by destroying the ripening 

 grapes, we heard less last season, thougli tjic 

 grapes were much sweeter than in previous vears. 

 The hard winter of 18G6-67 destroyed " large 

 numbers of wasps, which were the real cause 

 of tlie damage sustained ; and an opjiortunity 

 lias thus been had to exonerate the bees of tlie 

 calumny. 



Let us now 1 "»ok forward joyfully to the re- 

 vived activity of our bees in the coming spring, ' 

 and trust confidently that we shall realize in 

 creased and compensating results from our com 

 mon exertions for the advancement of bee culture 



J. Mangold, 

 Home, near Cincinnati, Dec. 10, 1867. 



[For tho American Beo Journal.] 



Curious Instances of Swarming. 



Last June I put a very large swarm of bees in 

 a nc■^v Farmer's hive, which had been prepared 

 in tlic most a])pr()ved manner, to make it accep- 

 table to the bics. Tliey entered it to the last 

 bee, and appeared delighted with their new 

 home. At dark it was removed fifty yards from 

 the old hive. I examined them in'thc morning 

 and saw them fiying about the hive, going in and 

 out, Init not working. About one o'clock they 

 all sallied out and settled on a tree, but in a few 

 minutes left. 



In a few days after, as my colored man was 

 mowing a small lot of clover, a swarm of bees 

 passed along, heard the rattling of an old mow- 

 ing machine, and concluded to stop on a busli in 

 the clover lot. lie went to the house and got 

 the same hive, which they entered, and at once 

 went to work with a will. 



In about eight days after, I had a large swariK 

 settle on a small apple tree. I placed it with 

 the stray swarm, and they have worked harmo- 

 niouslj^ ever since. I have known several in- 

 stances where swarms of bees have settled on 

 fence stakes. One last spring remained on a 

 stake two daj's. A swarm was once known to 

 cluster on a large clod in a plowed field. Last 

 June a swarm of Italian bees clustered on the 

 iron window shutters at the back of a dry goods 

 store on Main street, St. Louis. After remain- 

 ing there for some time, and attracting a great 

 crowd, the porter of the store put them in a nail 

 keg. 



A bee-keeper of forty years standing informs 

 me that he once, in Kentucky, saw a swarm 

 enter a hollow tree and remain in it a few min- 

 utes, then come out and enter another, and there 

 remain. But the strangest story he relates of 

 the fickle capers of bees'happened Avhile he was 

 travelling through St. Charles county, Missouri. 

 A German was plowing corn, a swarm of bees 

 followed after him, and stung his horse. The 

 fellow, almost frightened to death, took his horse 

 out and abandoned his plow, and the bees clus- 

 tered on the handles. My venerable friend, the 

 bee-keeper, sent the German to his home for a 

 box, put the bees into it, and pursued his jour- 

 ney. 



instances of such waj'vwardness are calculated 

 to shake the belief that scouts are sent off be- 

 fore swarming to select a home. It may be so, 

 but it does not accord with their general in- 

 stincts. J. 8. 



Flokissant Valley, Mo. 



Answer to a Question. 



On page 133 of the current volume of tho 

 Bee Journal, Apis says—" It has been said 

 that bees will not build combs on a painted 

 surface." My experience is that they Avill. I 

 have used painted frames when I wished to ex- 

 hibit the combs built therein. Bees will build 

 on a painted surface, on a smooth surface, on 

 a rough surface, on tin, iron, brass, zinc, or any 

 other metal. In fact, they will attach their 

 €ombs to almost anything. 



BuooKLiN, Ontario. J. H. Thomab. 



