(iLEANINUS IN BEE CULTURE. 



190 



and dropped it over iho fall, and dropped my 

 halchet. and started back. I got back by hard 

 work. Then I sat down and rested for an hour 

 before I went down to get my coat and hatchet, 

 and 1 pro iilsed myself that 1 would not go 

 there again. 

 Platteville. Wis. 



YOUNG'S CHAFF HIVE. 



By J. M. Young. 



If'you were to step into our workshop or api- 

 ary to-day you would see a lot of hives very 

 much in appearance like the small one I send 

 you by this m-dil. It will explain itself, and the 

 manner of construction will show to you what 

 we have been using to winter our bees in for a 

 period of fifteen years. At one time we had 

 quite a number of colonies in these hives; and 

 from what experience we have had in using 

 them we have met with excellent success, the 

 per cent of loss being very small, usually, when 

 the bees were in the proper condition for win- 

 tering. 



The model will show that the lower story is 

 packed with chaff only; and the upper story, 

 being single-walled, can be removed by the op- 

 erator when handling the brood-frames in the 

 lower part of the hive. 



The upper story contains frames also, but 

 they hang at right angles to those below. This 

 removing of the upper story in order to get at 

 the lower part is one special feature in making 

 and using chaff hives nowadays, and is one ap- 

 preciated by practical apiarists. The constant 

 use of this hive by us ever since its introduction 

 alongside of the new dovetailed, has clearly 

 proven that it is not far behind the single-walled 

 hives in manipulation, from the fact we use it 

 every summer, one as much as the other. The 

 outside dimensions are about 20x22, and 21 

 inches deep. We use the improved Hoffman 

 frame, size ^%xll%, and any of the single-walled 

 hive furniture is interchangeable with the chaff 



hives, or vice versa. It can be made for 10 or 8 

 frame size, as the apiarist may desire, without 

 changing the dimensions, outside measure, by 

 simply making the inside box of the lower story 

 to suit the number of frames desired. 



The 8 frame t-ize has three inches of dead-air 

 space for packing at the sides, while there is 

 only about one-half inch at the ends. It has 

 been our experience that this amount of dead- 

 air space is sufficient to obtain good results; 

 and wider than this is really not necessary. We 

 think this space should by all means be filled 

 with soMiethlntr. We find that dry, loose chaff 

 is more suitable than any thing else that we 

 have tried. 



Any size of honey-case or super can be used 

 in this hive, or any width; the new dovetailed- 

 hive super can also be set in or tiered up as may 

 be desired, or, if preferred by the apiarist, a reg- 

 ular 8 frame hive body, with wide frames, may 

 be used in the upper story. 



All our chaff hives are furnished with the 

 gable cover, this style suiting us the best. 

 They are about 2 inches deep at the sides, and 

 a sheet of tarred paper is placed under the roof- 

 boards to save leaking, should the lumber be 

 wind shaken or split. Three-quarter-inch holes 

 are bored in the ends of the gables, giving plen ty 

 of ventilation when wintering. Of course, the 

 Higginsville cover may be used, according to 

 the wishes of the bee-keeper; but we 

 prefer a cover that will fit over the out- 

 side of the hive, telescope fashion; then 

 there will be no chance for the weather 

 to beat in and wet the chaff cushions 

 or packing. 



The bottoms of all our chaff hives are 

 stationary, and nailed on, with tarred 

 paper placed under the boards. 



When the time comes to prepare the 

 bees for winter there are always colo- 

 nies in the single-walled hives that 

 want to be packed in chaff. Well, 

 it is not necessary to have any outside winter- 

 case, as is usually recommended, to set over 

 single-walled hives, but just take an empty 

 chaff hive (we always have plenty left over 

 after swarming), remove therefrom all the 

 frames, and fill up the lower story with chaff 

 or leaves. Next remove the top and bottom 

 frames of the single-walled hive that contains 

 your colony to be fixed for winter, and then set 

 it inside of the upper story of the chaff hive, 

 and pack all around with your packing ma- 

 terial. Of course, your single-walled hive must 

 rest on strips to enable the bees to work out at 

 the upper entrance, as shown in the small hive 

 sent as a sample. 



Another special feature of this hive is that of 

 having an entrance at both ends, so that two 

 small or weak colonies may be wintered in the 

 same hive with only a division-board between 

 them. Two colonies in one hive will use less 



