1894 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



467 



end of the top-bar, leaving it only % of an inch 

 wide. Incidentally this gave the bee less 

 tlianco to attach by propolis the end of the top- 

 l);ir to th(^ hive rabbet. 



iJy ext(uiding the top-bar down to full % inch 

 (Ircp it would leave no comb-guide, so it be- 

 iMiue necessary to leave a bead with a trough, 

 a^ it were, on each side: but the outside edges 

 would have to be blunt in order to prevent the 

 lues from building combs to the sides instead 

 ol to liie propcM' comb-guide in the center. The 

 mcompanjing engraving shows the new frame. 



OUR NEW HIVE. 



IT IS KEVIEWKI) IN DETAIL 



Fig 1 shows the frames as they appear to- 

 gether in the hive; in Figs. 3 and 4 the narrow- 

 ed-up ends of the top-bar shows more plainly. 

 Fig. 3 shows the under side of the top-bar with 

 the comb-guide.. Un- 



f»mmm m m'm »>\»h)j i *^'i . ?f :^ 



fortunately the en- 

 graving is incorrect; 

 the outside edges 

 should be four times 

 as wide as the center 

 or comb - guide, or 

 like the accompany- 

 ing cross - sec ti o n. 

 The top-bars as thus- 

 made may be used without foundation. 



We have also changed the bottom-bar from % 

 square to H x fi inch. Complaints came in, to 

 the effect that the bees would sometimes build 

 •comb clear past the square bars, and hence the 

 ■change. The bottom-bar 'ji inch wide seems to 

 be a nice compromise between the extremes. 



It should be stated, that these sight changes 

 Tvill make no confusion in frames already in 

 use, and the extra " finger- room " at the end of 

 the top-bar especially, will at once be appreci- 

 ated. 



LANGDON NON-SWAKMEK. 



Since last year Mr. Langdon has made some 

 •slight modifications in his non swarmer; on 

 the back are nailed cleats as shown in the cut, 

 the purpose of which is to render it unnecessary 

 to bore holes in the hive, and incidentally it se- 

 cures better ventilation. The non-swarmer is 

 used the same as recommended last year, with 

 the exception that less time is allowed be- 

 tween the changing of the working force from 

 one hive to the other. 



By Dr. C. C. MiUcr. 



I have before me a Dovetail hive-body filled 

 with frames with full sheets (Jf foundation, all 

 ready to give to the bees, the wliole being the 

 latest approved pattern at the Home of the 

 Honey-bees. I've looked it all over, handled it 

 all over, studied it all over, and I'd give some- 

 thing, Mr. Editor, to have you for a short time 

 where I could talk it all 6ver with you. If you 

 come, I'll promise to handle you carefully and 

 return you in good order. One reason why I'd 

 rather talk than write is that, in talking, if I 

 make some objection that has no weight, an 

 immediate reply ends it; whereas a written 

 opinion stands against me if it be a wrong opin- 

 ion. But I'm pretty sure you'd like to know 

 what I think of the hive, so I'll tell you what I 

 like and dislike. I may as well say in advance 

 that my likes very much outweigh my dislikes. 



The feature from which the hive takes its 

 name, the dovetail corner, after trying ever 

 since Dovetail hives were made, I feel sure is an 

 excellent thing. No other corner that I have 

 tried has held so solidly together without the 

 least sign of yielding. 



The hive is painted, and I'm inclined to the 

 opinion I'd rather have it without for the good 

 of the bees. But it might be a good thing to 

 have the corners painted. 



I prefer a cleat on each end at the top as han- 

 dles, but those are easily added. The larger 

 hand-holes that you are now making render the 

 cleats less important. 



Turning to the inside, those top-bars 1\ by %, 

 with the 3^-inch space between, are a real de- 

 light to my eyes. I think I'd be willing to stand 

 all the disadvantages, and more too, for the sake 

 of having those top-bars. 



The V edge on the end-bars I must mention 

 very softly, and it would be some relief if I did 

 not have to mention them, at all; for I have 

 been very pronounced in my opposition to them, 

 and it is only lately that I wrote you privately 

 that you might count on undying hostility to 

 them from the maiority of bee-keepers. To be 

 obliged now to say that there is a possibility of 

 some good in them is humiliating. I said the 

 bees would plump bee-glue in that angle, and 

 they do. But your late editorial calls attention 

 to other things that put the matter in a differ- 

 ent light. There is no denying that, with the 

 first form of HoflI'mans. after they have been in 

 use a year or two, the bees get so much propolis 

 crowded between the parts thatcome in contact 

 that they do not pull apart as easily as they 

 might ; and, worse than that, the increased 

 room they take up makes it hard to take out the 

 dummy. Your argument is, that the V edge 

 will allow the frames to be crowded together 

 more easily, the sharp edge cutting its way 



