162 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



by with from 11 to 16 frames 18 inches long 

 by 11 inches deep ; and the American witli 

 16 frames 12 by 12 inches, with partition 

 boards in both. Every year I find tliat there 

 is more brood and more profit in the larger 

 and shallow frame. If I was to begin anew, 

 I would choose a hive with 11 frames 16 

 inches long by 12 high, inside ; or 16)^ by 13 

 outside. I give to the upper bar of the 

 frames, % inch of thickness, to prevent warp- 

 ing under the weight of honey. 



For winter the brood chamber is reduced 

 by the partition boards to 8 frames, with a 

 dead space on both sides. 



To Beginners in Apiculture. 



BY PROF. A. J. COOK. 



One beginner had a colony swarm last 

 week, and though he hived them according 

 to the rule already given, and although they 

 seemed to take full possession, yet one thing 

 was omitted — putting a comb of worker 

 brood in the new hive, — and in about an 

 hour all came out and left for a wood-land 

 home. And thus was lost a splendid colony 

 of Italians, worth at least $10. 



Another beginner,- — Mr. B. — was follow- 

 ing directions, but as the queen cells were 

 not yet capped, he thought to wait a little 

 longer, and went to business as usual. 

 About 9 o'clock a prime swarm issued from 

 one of the two colonies. Mrs. B. who had 

 never seen such a thing done, but had care- 

 fully read directions, and talked them over 

 with her husband, went bravely at work, 

 followed directions exactly, aud the result 

 is that Mr. B. now has three fine colonies 

 instead of two. 



So let me repeat, that I may emphasise 

 the advice, never hive a colony in case of 

 natural swarming, — which will occasionally 

 happen in the best regulated apiaries, — 

 without putting into the hive some brood, 

 even eggs will not do. There must be 

 capped and uncapped brood, and the above 

 experience makes the farther advice perti- 

 nent to all beginners who are in the bonds 

 of single bitterness, immediately procure a 

 brave intelligent help-meet. 



Again our beginner should commence to 

 start some more nuclei, for all the summer 

 through, queens will be needed. If the 

 season is good you may at least hope to in- 

 crease from two to six, though if the .season 

 is not extra (jood, you must not expect much 

 honey with such increase. You also may 

 need to replace poor queens. 



Be sure that all through the months of 

 June and July, your bees have plenty of 

 room, thus you will be more apt to get 

 worker brood comb — that with small cells 

 — and more than this, you will preclude 

 that necessary idleness, which can never be 

 <'onducivi' t(» the luippiness and well being of 



the "busy bee." Every hive should con- 

 tain empty cells, and empty frames, that 

 the gatherers may have room to store, the 

 queens to lay eggs, and the comb-builders 

 to form their beautiful white structures. 

 A non-observance of this advice, and the 

 workers will hang outside the hive, the 

 palets of wax go to waste, and, the queen 

 ceasing to lay eggs, the colony will become 

 weak, unable to protect itself against 

 robbers, and moths. 



We are now in the midst of the locust 

 season, at the dawn of the white clover, 

 and that regal season, — the bass-wood — 

 will come very soon. So now, as seen, is 

 the time to get our box honey, if we desire 

 it. Simple boxes will do. They may be 

 made from six to ten inches each way with 

 glass on two sides and long narrow holes 

 cut in the bottom, the top and other two 

 sides of half inch pine, put these immedi- 

 ately on the frames. 



During the hot weather be sure to have 

 your bees shaded from the hot sun, not at 

 morn, aud eve, but at noon-tide. I have 

 known bees to honey outside the hive just 

 because they could not endure the oven -like 

 interior. The formation of a screen, by 

 placing boards a little above the hives, 

 worked like a charm. Idleness was at once 

 banished, and the happy hum of returning 

 industry, told of a rich harvest of prospec- 

 tive sweets. 



One new beginner has already banished 

 veil and bee-gloves. Another was too rash, 

 and was fearfully stung. It is best to use a 

 good degree of caution and smoke, aud re- 

 tain at least the veil, till all show of 

 nervousness is gone, and you have a perfect 

 understanding with your pets. My friend, 

 aud old pupil Mr. E. Benton, now in charge 

 of the large Edgefield Junction Apiary, 

 writes me that the late Dr. Hamlin — whose 

 urbanity, candor, and Christian integrity 

 were so pre-eminent that his decease makes a 

 sad loss in our fraternity — never used smoke 

 and did not believe in it. He further adds 

 that the bees were very cross. In early 

 spring and late summer and autumn, I 

 believe that even the experienced Apiarists 

 had better use smoke. 



If any find a queen missing before having 

 extra queens, give the colony comb Avitli 

 eggs from your best queen. In my next 

 article I will give directions for introducing 

 queens. 



Agricultural College, Lansing. 



It is a common practice to rub the inside 

 of a hive with aromatic herbs, a solution of 

 salt, or other substance, with a view of 

 making the hive more acceptable to the ex- 

 pected swarm. But the most experienced 

 and observant bee-masters deem this alto- 

 getlicr unnecessary, if not injurious. 



