468 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



June 1. 



through the propolis. I can't find any good re- 

 ply to that argument. The surfaces in actual 

 contact with the V edge measure only about an 

 eighth as much as in the other kind, so the 

 same force will squeeze eight times as hard on 

 the opposing surfaces. So I am forced to admit 

 that it is in the limit of possibilities that the V 

 edge is an improvement. 



The peculiar way in which the dummies are 

 made, allowing just the right space between 

 comb and dummy, I like much. I like the 

 lightness of the dummy, but have a little fear 

 that the end of the top-bar may break too 

 easily. 



The frames slide very easily on the folded tin 

 support; but is there no danger that in time the 

 wood will be cut or worn away by sliding on the 

 tin? When the frames are crowded tight to- 

 gether there is only an eighth of an inch be- 

 tween the outside top-bar and the side of the 

 hive. The bees will be sure to fill propolis in 

 that one-eighth space; and, moreover, if a comb 

 from the center of the hive is put there, that 

 part of the comb which has sealed honey will 

 be only an eighth of an inch from the side of the 

 hive, and it will be thoroughly bridged with 

 comb. True, you can leave the end-bars an 

 eighth from the side of the hive; but spacing it 

 thus by sight takes time, and can not be exact- 

 ly done. Would it not be well to have eighth- 

 inch blocks in the corners for the end-bars to 

 strike against? 



You do not have the frames wedged together. 

 I believe that's ever so much better. Really, 

 the greatest objection I have to fixed distances, 

 as I have used them, is the difficulty of getting 

 out the dummy. With space enough and no 

 wedging, that difficulty will disappear. 



If it were possible to have the top-bar of the 

 dummy the, same width of the boards in the 

 dummy (,%) I should like that, for at present 

 there is only \ inch between the two top-bars; 

 but I don't see how it can be done without mak- 

 ing the top-bar of the dummy too weak. 



Now let's take a frame out and look at it. 

 That bead on the under side of the top- bar 

 seems a useless thing; but when I see how the 

 foundation is fastened against it. there seems a 

 use for it. But what's the good of the ditch on 

 the one side of the bead where there is no foun- 

 dation? Looking closer at it I find the founda- 

 tion is not fastened in the center. On one side, 

 from the foundation to the under edge of the 

 top-bar is f^ of an inch, and on the other side 

 ^. Of course, our combs must be freely inter- 

 changeable, making it often occur that two of 

 the shallow sides will come together, or two of 

 the deeper sides. In the one case it will make 

 the combs IX inches from center to center, and 

 there would be nothing so very bad about that. 

 But in the other case the combs would be 1^4 

 inches from center to centi'r. and to that I 

 should decidedly object. When in use, the hive 

 before me will probably have the three differ- 



ent spacings— II4, 1?^, and !}.<. Now, instead of 

 cutting two grooves in the wood, let there be 

 only one, so cut that the foundation will be ex- 

 actly in the middle. Or, it may be better still to 

 have a saw-kerf for the edge of the foundation 

 to fit in loosely, then a few drops of melted wax 

 will keep it in place till the bees fasten it. If J^ 

 deep, no waxing is needed. The trouble with 

 saw- kerfs is, that they are usually made too 

 narrow. The foundation before me is 3€ inch 

 thick, and I suppose a saw-kerf to receive it 

 should be /v at least. 



I suppose you have fastened the wires in the 

 foundation by electricity. At any rate, it is an 

 artistic piece of work, much admired by Emma, 

 who probably takes a sort of maternal interest 

 in it. as she was the first one who imbedded 

 wires by means of heat. 



The question arises, whether it might not be 

 a good thing to put bottom starters in brood' 

 frames. In the frames before me there will be 

 a space between comb and bottom -bar which is 

 objectionable, and means about 5 per cent less 

 comb surface in the frame. You know that 

 bottom starters in sections are a success, and 1 

 think they might be more successful in brood 

 frames on two accounts: A bottom starter of ^ 

 or ?4 inch stands up of its own accord in sec 

 tions, and the thicker foundation would stanc 

 up better. Besides, in the brood-frame the bot 

 tom starter can be cut of such width or deptt 

 that the lower wire can be imbedded in it neai 

 its upper edge. 



On the whole, I believe you have done a fint 

 thing in getting up this hive, and I'm going tc 

 try it to the number of fifty, V edge and all. II 

 I find on trial that they are not as good as ] 

 supposed, I make no promise to keep quiet. 



Marengo, 111. 



[We assume, Doctor, at the outset, that, 

 while you are apparently " on the fence "re- 

 garding some things, you are anxious to get on 

 our side, providing you know the ground will 

 holdup — or that we can convince you that it 

 will. We like good company. Well, in regard 

 to the V-edge, you seem to have a tolerable 

 assurance that the ground is all right. We are 

 sure you will doubt no more after you have 

 tried those 50 hives. 



About that paint. Just the other day we 

 visited a small apiary where the owner had 

 put in, sonu^ 9 months before, a lot of new 

 hives. They looked as if they had been recent- 

 ly pninted with one coat of paint, for the 

 boards were badly checked. " But," said we, 

 to the owner " you did not paint your hives, 

 did you, till recently?" "No," said he; "but 

 I am sorry now that I did not paint them at 

 the start. They have been left out in the hot 

 sun, exposed to the weather; and the boards 

 — especially the covers— are warping a little 

 askew." I^et us see, Doctor; you admit it is a 

 good policy to paint covers; then why not the 

 rest of the hive? A whole loaf is better than 

 half of one. A hive may stand up just as long^ 

 without paint but it won't remain bee or robber 

 tight very long. 



You prefer a cleat at each end at the top. as 

 handles. Well, you can have them. The 

 Dovetail hive is so made that you can have 



