THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



233 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



Hunting Queens for Removal. 



The usual method of finding queens in box 

 hives is, to invert the hive, set an empty one 

 on it, close the entrances, and drive the bees 

 into the upper hive, by drumming on the lower 

 one. The swarm is then looked over to find 

 the queen. 



In a different way, the operation may be very 

 much facilitated, especially by the inexperienced 

 "queen huntor." Leave ,the hive right side 

 up ; put on all the boxes ; blow some smoke 

 into the entrance, and close it. Now, drum on 

 the hive, and drive what you can of the bees 

 into the boxes. The queen will be almost cer- 

 tain to be among them. Then scatter the boxes, 

 setting them three or four rods- apart, and the 

 tame distance from the hive. In a few minutes 

 the bees "will desert the queenless boxes, while 

 in the one containing herthe}' will remain quiet, 

 and there will be but few bees to look over to 

 find her. 



Even in movable comb hives, I prefer finding 

 a black queen, by driving her into an empty 

 box; instead of taking out the frames and look- 

 ing over the combs. It is less trouble, especial- 

 ly if tbe swarm is a large one; and generally 

 saves time. 



J. H. TOWNLEY. 



Tompkins, Mien. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



Wintering Bees in Paper Hives, 



Mr. Editor : — As there is so much said about 

 hives, we thought a few hints in regard to the 

 subject, and that of wintering, might be of in- 

 terest to that class of beekeepers who have been 

 unsuccessful in wintering their bees in board 

 hives in our cold climate. 



In September ]ast we transferred in Dr. Ed- 

 win Cox's Paper Hives several colonies, which 

 we wintered with perfect success; while colonies 

 in double wall board hives are in a sad condi- 

 tion. Those wintered in cellars are in a better 

 state; but yet have not done as well by twenty- 

 five per cent., as those in the paper hives have 

 out of doors. 



We weighed wood and paper hives last fall, 

 and next month will give the amount of stores 

 consumed. AVe wish friend McMullin, as well 

 as other practical beekeepers, would give us a 

 call. We will show them a better hive than the 

 one described under the head of "Successful 

 Bee-culture, 1 ' in the March number of the Bee 

 Journal, or we will pay all expenses which 

 they incur in visiting us. Our hives are com- 

 posed of eight walls, six of paper and two of 

 thin boards, with an air space between each 

 wall. They are tight and durable, and at the 

 same time meet the wants of the bees in every 

 respect. We do not use frames, but movable 

 top-bars of a peculiar shape, which give us bet- 

 ter combs than any other style in use. When 

 combs are to be removed, we sever the edges by 

 means of a thin sharp lance — a tool which every 



beekeeper should possess. Our honey box 

 holds fifty pounds, and is so arranged that one 

 box can be set above another, up to any number 

 required. Our brood chamber is lo| inches 

 square and 12 inches high, with nine combs. 



A hive must be of such material and con- 

 struction as to protect the bees from dampness 

 and extremes of heat and cold, and offer them 

 every advantage for storing surplus honey in 

 acceptable shape for market, and give the api- 

 arian full control in the general management of 

 them. 



The man who keeps bees from year to year, 

 as the majority do in this region, without tak- 

 ing any surplus honey, is like a farmer who 

 would keep a lot of fine milch cows and never 

 milk them. 



Chas. Hastings. 



Dowagiac, Mich. • 



[For tbe American ttee Journal.] 



Artificial Swarming, Queen-Raising, &c. 



Mr. Editor : — As the season is approaching 

 for raising queens and making artificial swarms, 

 I will, with your permission, describe my most 

 successful method of proceeding in either case. 



After various experiments, I would say, in 

 the beginning, that it is not for the knowing 

 ones that I write this ; but, as Mr. Gallup says, 

 for those who know less than I do. If others, 

 knowing doubtless methods as good or far bet- 

 ter, should, on reading this, be induced to de- 

 scribe their modes of operating, I, for one, 

 should be happy to hear from them, as my ex- 

 perience in beekeeping extends back only four 

 years. By the way, Mr. Editor, I will relate 

 what first led me to go into the bee-business. 

 In the autumn of 1864, I was sojourning in the 

 city of Dayton, Ohio. What caused me to 

 dream of bees I know not, but certain it is I 

 dreamed of bees more than thirty times during 

 my stay of three months. This made such an 

 impression on my mind that, on going home, I 

 went to the bookstore and asked the proprietor 

 if he had any books on bees, and was handed 

 Mr. Langstroth's work on the hive and honey 

 bee. To it, and our Bee Journal, I am in- 

 debted for nearly all I know about bees. 



But to resume, from the 10th to the loth of 

 May, earlier or later, according to the season, I 

 start my queen cells, by depriving some of my 

 strongest colonies of their queens, taking out 

 one or two frames with the queen and all the 

 bees adhering. I put these into an empty hive, 

 placing the frames at one side, and inserting a 

 division board. I then set this hive one or two 

 feet to the right or left of the parent stock, now 

 queenless. Should too many of the bees leave 

 and go back to the old hive, move this afoot or 

 so to one side, and the other, containing the 

 queen, as much nearer the old location. This 

 will secure bees enough to care for the queen 

 during her temporary absence. I have got as 

 many as thiity-two perfect queen cells from a 

 strong stock treated in this manner. 



I much prefer this method of securing queen 

 cells, to rearing them in small nucleus colonies, 



