Harris' Gem Hive. 



This is another addition to our Muse- 

 um. It uses the same sized frames as 

 Oatman's Modest Hive. Mr. Harris 

 gives the following description of it : 



The brood frames (f) are nearly square, 

 the top bar being 13% inches long ; end bars, 

 10% inches, and the bottom bar, 11% inches; 

 making a frame 12x11 inches outside. 



The body of the hive is square, measuring 

 18>^xl8% inches outside. 



At the front and back of the hive are re- 

 versible cases, closed on one side each with 

 % inch boards, and top-mounted with metal 

 rabbets. The same style of cases (e) are 

 fitted in the ends of the hive, which are also 

 reversible, and can be used to contract the 

 brood chamber to any size desired. 



The cases described above can be packed 

 with chaff, straw or leaves, and the open 

 side covered with burlaps, tacked around 

 the edges ; or the spaces can be. left unfilled, 



forming an air-space between the outer and 

 inner walls of the hive. For wintering on 

 summer stands, these inner cases may be 

 turned, bringing the warm cushions next the 

 bees. This forms an excellent absorbent of 

 inside moisture, and also keeps the bees at 

 an even temperature, being warm in winter 

 and cool in summer. With tins packed, 

 double-wall arrangement, bees are not lured 

 from the hive, to chill and die, with every 

 comparatively mild day in winter ; while in 

 spring, a continuous spell of warm weather, 

 of several clays' duration, is required to en- 

 tice the bees forth in the vain search for 

 "fairer fields and pastures green." 



Where extracted honey is the aim of the 

 apiarist, the second story is made a dupli- 

 cate of the lower story, holding 10 frames, 

 and also provided with the inner wall. 



21T 



The second story is omitted in nil cases 

 where comb honey is wanted. The cap (a.) 

 is the same in all, and racks are furnished 

 (as in cut) to hold any sized box or section 

 desired ; but will be made for 21 4 1 l \4 ! 4 un- 

 less ordered otherwise. 



If comb honey in prize boxes (S^xtl^, or 

 2 lb. sections) be desired, the second story 

 is omitted, and in its stead a rack holding 

 14 boxes, with an 8 inch cover (a) can be 

 used. These racks are provided with bot- 

 tom strips, made of split-basker stuff, just 

 the width of the sections, which serve ad- 

 mirably to keep the sections clean, and pre- 

 vent much annoyance from fastening down. 



liF Mons. J. Fiorini, an Italian queen 

 breeder, who for several years has 

 furnished Messrs. Dadant & Son with 

 queens from Italy, went to the Island 

 of Cyprus last November. He spent 

 two months there studying the habits 

 of the native bees, and, having procured 

 8 colonies, returned with them to North- 

 ern Italy. He found much difficulty in 

 obtaining them, on account of the su- 

 perstition of the natives ; they think 

 that if they sell any bees to foreigners 

 that all the rest of their bees will leave 

 of their own accord, with the colonies 

 sold. 



©"Mr. John R. Lee, Vice President 

 of the National Association for Ala- 

 bama has removed to Arkansas, and 

 recommends the appointment of Mr. J. 

 A. Austin, of Huntsville, Ala., as his 

 successor. He is. therefore, duly ap- 

 pointed, and will enter upon the duties 

 of that office at once. 



l^Mons. Dennler, in the Alsatian 

 Bienen Zuechter says that to prevent his 

 sugar syrup, made for feeding the bees, 

 from granulating, he adds half a tea- 

 spoonful of cream of tartar or glycer- 

 ine to every 2 lbs. of the sugar syrup. 



"Our 'Apiary" is the title of a new 

 paper started by Johnson & Homrig- 

 hous. It is a monthly of Hi pages, and 



costs 50 cts. a year. It is a mixture of 

 agriculture, apiculture, and religious 

 enthusiasm. Its appearance is quite 

 creditable. 



©"The Rev. M. Mahin lias removed 

 from Logansport to Huntingdon, Ind. 



