184 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



a cone-shaped top, in which a small swarm "may 

 build comb rapidly, cover more brood, and spare 

 a larger gathering force ; good non-conducting 

 walls, with less inside surface in propoition to 

 the space enclosed, and therefore a warmer and 

 better hive, as far as the bees are concerned, 

 than ever was invented by human conceit. The 

 windows of our dwellings are covered with 

 frost, but we put water on the stove. The plas- 

 ter is too warm to condense moisture. Con- 

 densed moisture is needed when bees are con- 

 fined. They dwindle to a handful in dry spells 

 in Texas, in summer. The Arab muffles his 

 face and falls to vhe ground, to escape the dry 

 air of the desert, for water is essential to animal 

 life. For more on this subject, I refer Mr. Price 

 to the Prairie Farmer, Nov. 14. 1861, page 321; 

 March 15, 1862, page 164. 



In warm hives b^es cluster loosely, and air 

 circulates freely. They sleep most of the time, 

 requiring little honey or air. Their lives are 

 not materially shortened by the lapse of time 

 while in repose, both food and air are obtained 

 without disturbance, and they are fresh and 

 vigorous in spriug. Horizontal ventilation al- 

 lows the heat to escape from the lower combs, 

 preventing mould, while retaining heat and 

 moisture above, giving the bees control of the 

 honey and preventing it from candying. 



Will Mr. Price tell why a tight top is not as 

 necessary to brood iu January, February, and 

 March, as in April, May, and June ? How va- 

 por makes dew on a summer night, and rises 

 out of a cold hive in winter ? Why bees need 

 more air in cold spells, to keep them warm, and 

 in hot spells to keep them cool ? How upward 

 ventilation cools them when combs melt in the 

 sun ? Why our teachers cannot agree as to the 

 right form and size of a hive ? If they know 

 the right, why are they always repudiating 

 their previous teachings V Destitute of scientific 

 knowledge, have I not a right to expect these 

 men of collegiate attainments to explain the 

 apparent inconsistencies of their positions as 

 regards wed known facts, and give some logi- 

 cal reasons for the faith they bold? What 

 right have conservators of the public weal to 

 allow an ignorant, crack-brained farmer to mis- 

 lead the public? 



In my former communication, when I wrote, 

 if the bees had upward ventilation, they Avould 

 have suffered in the spring, the printer inserted 

 the word not, thus reversing my meaning. The 

 Bee Journal has a numerous list of able prac- 

 tical contributors. Many of us are fearful all 

 wisdom will die with us. You have allowed 

 each to blow his whistle. Your editorial 

 course is just and liberal, and the Journal 

 must be sustained. 



My bees here have not honey enough for 

 winter. I had 150 pounds of cap honey in 

 Iroquois, and took 200 pounds out of the hives, 

 and purchased 100 pounds more to winter these 

 here. 



F. II. Miner. 



Lemont, III., Dec. 24, 1868. 



[For the American Bee Journal. ] 



The New Hive. 



Honey does not candy from cold alone, with- 

 out some other concurring circumstances. 



I believe in progression ; and to-day, if I 

 have an idea in advance of what I had yester- 

 day, with sufficient candor I shall acknowledge 

 it. I once recommended the common box and 

 caps, as sufficient for all our wants in a bee 

 hive. When movable combs were presented, 

 had I rejected them and obstinately adhered to 

 the old idea, I should have lost much. Mr. 

 Langstroth has the honor of introducing to the 

 people of this country the movable comb hive 

 in one form, and has covered the improvement 

 with a patent. Others have made changes, and 

 have also obtained patents. I want a hive for 

 a specific purpose, and differing from all. 



First, and most important, I want to control 

 swarming, and to prevent it — not by giving ex- 

 tra room, and then guessing they will not 

 swarm. I want to be certain. I want space 

 on the inside to bold all the bees as they in- 

 crease, and give room to work advantageously. 

 I want to open the hive frequently ; and do not 

 want the frames separated at their sides, bot- 

 toms, and tops ; but connected, to prevent the 

 bees from making any little pieces of comb out- 

 ,side, to interfere with the necessary manipula- 

 tions. No shallow chamber, but the surplus 

 boxes on the top. A suspended frame must 

 necessarily be supported by the sides or ends of 

 the hive. I want it arranged for frames to 

 stand directly on the bottom board, so that I 

 can remove the outer case, and let the surplus 

 boxes at the sides, and the strips of tin connect- 

 ing the frames, form the hive proper. 



When the case is removed, the combs can be 

 handled without crushing or even pinching a 

 bee, or marring the surface of a single comb. 

 Such a hive I have completed. For myself, I 

 prefer it to any I have yet seen. I am asked 

 why I do not get it patented. There are sev- 

 eral reasons. " One is, it will not pay. Mr. 

 Langstroth has tried it fourteen years — through 

 one whole term, and claims that he is not re- 

 munerated yet. Could I expect to fare any 

 better ? Some one would make a little altera- 

 tion — it might be an improvement. I might 

 think it an infringement. Litigation iu the U. 

 S. Court might be expensive. I should be 

 quite likely to imagine that I bad reached per- 

 fection ; aiKl that, with me, would be the end 

 of all progress. Whenever a person begins to 

 think and talk of a hive as my bive, there is 

 great danger of his being so blinded as not to 

 see advantages in any other. Should any see- 

 advantages in the description that I have given, 

 and wish to obtain them, I have no objection ; 

 but I do not feel that I could afford much time 

 to explain or defend. 



M. QUINBY. 



St. Johnsville, N. Y. 



In some parts of Surrey, (England,) as at 

 Dorking, the first migration from the parent 

 hive is called a swarm; the next is a cast; 

 while the third increase in the season, goes un- 

 der the name of a cote. This latter is also 

 called a spindle in some of the middle counties 

 of England. 



