44 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



[August, 



their cells removed, and in some cases the rest 

 of the comb mostly cut away, and still they 

 were unable to extricate themselves, being evi- 

 dently entangled in the cocoons. The loss of 

 legs and wings appears to be the result of the 

 older bees trying to help them. There were no 

 worms in the hive, and the swarm is rather a 

 weak one.* 



I liardly think this the effect of foul-brood, 

 but am not siwe. I have seen isolated a single 

 young bee dragged out of the hive in a similar 

 condition, but could usually find more or less 

 worms at work inside. But liere the entire 

 brood appeared to be in the same condition. 

 Will not some mge Beeisf, if any such tliere be, 

 give through the Journal such explanation as 

 they can ; and also something further on foul- 

 brood ? 



I fear this article is too long ; but should you 

 deem it worth insertion, I will in my next try 

 to give you a history of my own case of foul-brood. 

 Some of the I'eaders may think I ought to have 

 done so first ; but this case seemed most pvomi- 

 nen t. 



Since writing the above, the July number of 

 the Journal has come to hand. In it Mr. John 

 M. Price has an article on prolific and hardy 

 queens, which accords with my experience 

 very closely. Some ten years since I attempted 

 artificial swarming, mostly after Mr. Lang- 

 stroth's plan of forced queens, but could not 

 succeed to my satisfaction in raising good 

 queens. Mr. Price's ]}\an may work better, I 

 have opijosed artificial swarming for the above 

 reason. 



R. B Mekritt. 



Battle Creek, Mieldgan. 



* This is certainly not a cnse of foal-broid, for in that the 

 brood perishes in the cells a ter it is capped, uuiie issuiug 

 therefrom, or being capable of malvini; any effort to do so. The 

 dead larva speedily dPComp.i.ses and becomes putrid, being 

 converted into a dark brownish, viscid, fetid mass vvliich if 

 Undisturbed, t'r.iduilly dries up in the cell. There are no 

 '■ first symptoms" liy whicli the disease in its iucipiency can 

 be detected, though, to an experienced eye, its existence is 

 betrayed early, by a peculiar hue and appearance which the 

 capping oftlie cells as.suraej?. — Ed. 



[For the Araeric:in Bee Journal.] 



Price's Sectional and Casket Bee Hive. 



Mr. Editor, and bee-keepers in general, I 

 bring to your notice my improvement in bee- 

 hives, which is used either in the horizontal or 

 angling position. In this hive I have overcome 

 all the objections to the angling position of the 

 frames — such as the impossibility of getting 

 straight combs in frames hung in that position, 

 without each alternate frame being filled with 

 comb. In this hive I have secui-ed a wai'in com- 

 pact breeding apartment, "movable" for large 

 outside cases — allowing it to be wintered on its 

 sumiiier stand, (ir removed from the case to a 

 bee-house, cellar or other repository. I have 

 also secured the advantages of movable parti- 

 tions, by using my glass honey cells — a set on 

 each side of the sectional hive. By the removal 

 of a cell from either side, the sections can be 

 moved from each other, thus securing great fa- 

 cility and ease of handling the combs and man- 



agement of the bees. I have also secured, by 

 the use of my comb-bars, all the advantages of a 

 shallow chamber, as a passage way for the bees 

 over the combs in winter. And by the use of 

 my wide top and nari'ow raised bottom sections, 

 all danger of killing or maiming of the queen or 

 bees is removed — a most troublesome and vexa- 

 tious peculiarity of the square frame, from tip- 

 ping, and thrice enhanced if the frames touch 

 or lay on the bottom of the hive. It is simple 

 and easily made in all its parts, without any 

 complicated contrivances, thereby securing im- 

 munity from the ravages of the moth worm. As 

 it overcomes all the imperfections of and objec- 

 tions to the horizontal or angling position of 

 the combs, it will suit all tastes and preferences 

 of position; and being perfect in itself as an in- 

 ner hive, it allows of the use of all good, tight, 

 large cases or packing boxes from the stores, 

 which can be had cheap — thereby saving the 

 cost of their special manufacture. Anybody 

 who can use a saw, square or hammer, and drive 

 a nail, can make them. 



This is the only bee-hive invented that wnll 

 answer, as such, in all climates; and that has 

 simple yet efficient means for safely wintering, 

 breeding or stimulating bees, ai.d has all the re- 

 quisites of a complete tiive for the successful and 

 profitable management of bees. The invention 

 consists of a hive made of sections, consisting of 

 four slats or bars attached at the corners in rec- 

 tangular form, two of which are wider than the 

 others and provided at the inside with slats for 

 the comb bars. The said sections being confined 

 in a rack or casket, and laid on a platform hav- 

 ing a deep angular groove, in which the hive is 

 laid on one corner, and may be turned from 

 time to time, as may be required. The hive so 

 constructed is designed to be wrapped in cold 

 weather with canvass; and the whole is enclosed 

 in an exterior case. The hive may be laid fiat 

 on the side, on a suitable support, if preferred, 

 from time to time, as it is changed in position 

 for stimulating the bees. To secure straight 

 combs, remove the platform from the outside 

 case and lay the casket and sectional hive flat on 

 the bottom of the case, covering the entrance 

 with tin or other suitable covering, (while the 

 hive is in this position, ) with a fly hole in it. 



By means of this improved hive 1 am enabled 

 to preserve the bees in cold weather, by wrap- 

 ping the canvass cover around them, much bet- 

 ter than can be done by the hives now in use. 



My patent embraces — 



1. The combination of the hive composed of the 

 casket and internal sections as described in my 

 specification, and the V shaped b.ase adapted lor 

 turning the hive and supporting it in the angular 

 position. 



2. The internal sections composed of two wide 

 bars, tapering at the top; two narrow bars ; and 

 the projecting comb bar. 



John M. Price. 

 Buffalo Grove, Iowa. 



The spring of 870 has not been a good one 

 for making maple sugar. It is believed that the 

 quantity made in Vermont this year, will but 

 little exceed half the usual crop. 



