68 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



enough to fit down over the body of the 

 hive and rest on strips about one inch 

 square, nailed on the body about three- 

 fourths of an inch below the top. The lid 

 to the cap should be about 18 inches wide 

 and three or four inches longer than the 

 cap, and let it project equally at both 

 ends. This hive can be made of green 

 lumber, just as well as dry, by allowing 

 enough for shrinkage, except top and 

 bottom boards, which must be dry. 



A board should be laid on top of the 

 cap to prevent the sun checking the lid. 

 The quilt should be about 23 or 24 inches 

 long and about 18 or 19 inches wide, and 

 should be laid over the frames, under the 

 cap. The upper story is made just 

 like the lower one, but without bottom 

 board or entrance. The upper story can 

 be used for a set of frame or honey boxes. 

 If used for boxes, a strip }£ inch thick 

 and 1% inches wide should be laid across 

 each end of the frames and along each 

 outside frame in the lower story for the 

 boxes to rest on and to prevent the bees 

 getting up outside the boxes. 



I sometimes use a long hive, holding 

 20 combs instead of a two-story hive, for 

 surplus honey in the combs, or for the 

 extractor. The frames are constructed of 

 five pieces: One top bar, 1 by 3€ i^^^h 

 and 14 inches long. One bottom bar % 

 by }4 inch and 12% inches long. One 

 guide bar 3^ by 34^ inch and 12 inches 

 long, and two side bars 1 by 3s£ inch and 

 10 inches long. 



To nail a frame together, first take 

 two side bars and drive a nail through 

 each one, }^ inch from the end, and into 

 the ends of the guide-bar. Second, nail 

 on the bottom bar. Third, nail on the 

 top bar with four nails, driving them 

 through and into the top ends of the side 

 bars. Thus you have a light and durable 

 frame, 12 inches wide and 10 inches deep 

 in the clear, with the exception ot the 

 little space occupied by the guide bar. 

 This guide bar is just as good. In every 

 respect, as if brought down to a sharp 

 edge. It also acts as a brace to the frame. 

 For these frames I use % inch finishing 

 nails. As lightness in frames is very 

 desirable, especially in surplus combs for 

 market, the frame is much preferable to 

 some, I have seen in use with timber 

 enough in the top bar to make the whole 

 frame. I order my frame bare sawed at a 

 planing mill or sash factory, from straight 

 grained pine lumber. They cost me 30 

 cents a hundred. I think this size and 

 shape of frame is as good as any for all 

 uses. For a one story-hive, exclusively, 

 I think I would prefer a frame two inches 

 deeper ; but for two stories that would be 

 objectionable, as it would be too far for 

 the bees to travel to get to the top of the 

 upper story. I use 13 frames in a hive, 

 18 inches long. 



S. K. Marsh. 



Sixth Annual Convention of the North- 

 Eastern Bee-Keepers' Association. 



The Northeastern Bee-Keepers' Associ- 

 ation was organized to promote the scien- 

 tific culture of bees, by means of the mu- 

 tual interchange of views and by co-oper- 

 ative experimental investigation. Its mem- 

 bers consist of prominent apiarists in 

 New England and the State of New York. 

 According to announcement, the society 

 met at Stanwix Hall, Rome, N. Y., Feb. 

 2, 1876. Notwithstanding the inclement 

 weather, the attendance was large. The 

 meeting was called to order at 2 P. M. by 

 the president, Capt. J. E. Hetherington, 

 of Cherry Valley. The Secretary, J. H. 

 Nellis, of Canajoharie, read the minutes 

 of the last meeting, which were duly ap- 

 proved. 



The Treasurer not having arrived, his 

 report was deferred. 



The committee appointed at the last 

 meeting to provide for a suitable repre- 

 sentation of the bee industry at the Cen- 

 tennial Exposition, presented a report of 

 progress, and further time was granted, 

 during which a plan will be perfected. 



The committee whose duty it was to 

 present a bill to the State legislature, for 

 the prevention of adulteration of honey, 

 reported that for several good reasons, 

 which had not been properly weighed 

 at the convention, the committee con- 

 cluded not to act. 



The President's address was then heard. 

 The president paid an eloquent tribute to 

 the memory of Moses Quinby of St. 

 Johnsville, whose labors in the promotion 

 of advanced agriculture, and especially 

 in the field of bee-culture, made him fam- 

 ous. He further criticised the practice 

 of exaggerating the profits of this business 

 and ignoring the failures and unprofitable 

 seasons. Four out of five who enter the 

 business fail because they are not adapted 

 to it. The chief need now is a greater 

 knowledge of wintering, and scientific 

 observation. A vote of thanks was ten- 

 dered the president for his able address. 



(Will forward the President's address 

 soon.) 



A number of members were enrolled, 

 after which balloting for officers was in 

 order. 



Capt. Hetherington was unanimously 

 re-elected, but positively declined on ac- 

 count of private duties. 



Balloting then progressed, with the fol- 

 lowing results: President, Reuben Bacon, 

 of Verona; Vice-President, I. L. Scofield, 

 of Chenango Bridge; Secretary, J. H. 

 Nellis, of Canajoharie; Treasurer, L. 

 C. Root, of Mohawk; Honorary Vice- 

 Presidents, N. N. Betsinger, Onondaga 

 county; C. R. Isham, Wyoming county; 

 W. E. Clark, Oneida county; and G. M. 

 Doolittle, Onondaga county. 



The correspondence of the Association 



