1896. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



57 



valuable for other lantiing purposes, 

 if the matter is properly presented to 

 them. A few years ajjo I mailed 

 many alsike clover i-irculars, and .sev- 

 eral good-sized fields of clover iu reach 

 of my bees was the result. In .suitable 

 localities many could be induced to 

 sow alfalfa that would bless both 

 farmer and bee-keeper. Rape is anoth- 

 er crop that may prove a success. But 

 while recommending, don't forget 

 sweet clover, that king of honey-plants 

 and best friend (though unappreciat- 

 ed) of the farmer. If farmers who are 

 also bee-keepers, would take hold of 

 this, and show what a valuable plant 

 it is, aside from bee-keeping, to other 

 farmers, many would be induced to 

 sow whole fields of it. Of course 

 much can be done to sow it in waste 

 places, where it will not interfere 

 with anyone. It will all help, and 

 should the good years come again soon, 

 we would be " right in the swim sure." 

 But should the dry sersons continue, 

 we can still do a good deal to help 

 matters by reducing the number of 

 colonies, if over-stocked, and increas- 

 ing our floral area. 

 Milan, Ills. 



From Bee. Keepers' Record, (Br). 



HIVES. 



WM. MC NALLY. 



As one gets older in the bee business 

 and looks back over the teachings of 

 the past, some thoughts as to the fu- 

 ture course bee-culture is likely to as- 

 sume present themselves. Since the 

 late Rev. L. L. Langstroth, of Amer- 

 ica, gave to the world in 1853 the mov- 

 able frame hive, there have been man}- 

 changes in hive structure. Every shape 

 and form that man could devise has 



been tried, and now, nearly half a 

 century later, there is a strong con.sen- 

 susof opinion gradually coming round 

 in all civilized countries, to the plain, 

 simple form of hive as first introduced 

 by that distinguished veteran. In 

 coming down to more recent times 

 early in the eighties, it was frequently 

 to be seen at our national bee-shows; 

 prices given for hives, the cost of 

 which WHS not less than £3 and £4 

 each. These were the days when the 

 homes of the honey-bee were "fear- 

 fully and wonderfully made," and 

 when the cost of twenty such would 

 build a comfortable cottage for the 

 bee-keeper himself to live in. Times, 

 however, have changed since then, 

 and the bee-keeping novice now profits 

 by the experience gained in past days, 

 from those who have tested all the 

 ideas propounded, at various times, in 

 the world of bee-cuUure. 



In taking a glanee around my own 

 apiary, which has gradually built it- 

 self for well-nigh twenty years, hives 

 of all shapes and sizes, outwardly at 

 least, may be seen. Several of these 

 are now obsolete, others again are get- 

 ting the worse for wear, and I have 

 decided for the last year or two to 

 save further expense on them, and run 

 them down before they are finally 

 converted into firewood. When a vis- 

 itor happens to call who contemplates 

 starting bee-keeping, the question gen- 

 erally asked is : " What sort of a hive 

 do you recommend to a beginner ? " 

 Invariably the reply given is, "If I 

 had to start bee-keeping now, I should 

 adopt, as the best all-purpose hive, one 

 of the plainest and simplest possible." 

 Experience has shown that, to make 

 the honey-raising industry a source of 

 profit the working expenses must be 



