1898 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



503 



as a general rule, you want a regular seat to 

 carry around. I commend to you a glass-box 

 with a cloth strap for a handle. [I belong to 

 all three classes. When I get tired of stand- 

 ing, I kneel. Then when it is convenient for 

 me I sit down on the hive-cover or on an emp- 

 ty super. And speaking of an apiary seat, an 

 empty dovetailed super is about as handy as 

 any thing I know of. When laid on one side 

 it gives one height; when stood on end it 

 gives another; that is to say, it is an adjusta- 

 ble seat. They are always present in our 

 yards, without going any great distance to get 

 them. Come to think of it, this adjustable 

 apiary-seat is something you suggested. Our 

 Mr. Spafford is a sitter, and our Mr. Wardell 

 is a stander. — Ed.] 



H. H. McKiNNEY did a good thing, Mr. 

 Editor, when he called out that distinct state- 

 ment, p. 477, as to your views on eight and 

 ten frame hives. I arise to remark that I 

 don't believe I could by any use of the Eng- 

 lish language more clearly express my own 

 exact views on the subject. For comb honey 

 I want 16 frames from spring to harvest; 8 

 frames when supers are given, then Ki frames 

 when supers are taken off; for outdoors, two 

 stories all the time except when sections are 

 on, but only one story for hauling and cellar. 

 But when bees have little attention, a twelve- 

 frame hive is better than an eight-frame. [I 

 suppose real good criticism is 'good for a fel- 

 low; but, allesamee, good substantial indorse- 

 ment like the foregoing makes one feel verv 

 much better for the time being. I know tha't 

 I have good backing on the same question in 

 York vState, in Michigan— all over the United 

 States; or, perhaps, more correctly, I should 

 say I am backing up the other fellows who for 

 years have been working two-story or large 

 colonies in single brood-nests. In France the 

 Dadant system (large hives and large colo- 

 nies) is uicd almost exclusively. The French- 

 men say that their large hives get for them 

 more honey than the small ones.— Ed.] 



"We should much prefer," says editor 

 Hill, "to undertake finding the queen in a 

 strong colony than in one less populous." 

 Although I might not put it in just that way, 

 I must say that some of the most exasperat- 

 ing cases I've ever met were where only a 

 handful of bees were present, and it seemed I 

 could count every one of them. It's a mys- 

 tery to me where the queens hide in such 

 cases. [Give me the less populous colony 

 every time, for queen-hunting. I have known 

 of instances where I wasted time in trying to 

 find a queen in a nucleus, but they are rare; 

 but I nearly always have to take quite a long 

 hunt for her majesty in a populous colony. 

 By the way, when brood-rearing has been 

 going on at a good rate I can trace her up 

 often by hunting for eggs. For instance, the 

 first frame has sealed brood ; the next one, 

 unsealed larvae ; and the next one young 

 larvfe; the next one, larvae and eggs. W'ell, 

 now, if the queen has not taken a hop, skip,' 

 and jump clear off to another part of the hive| 

 I am quite sure to find her on the next frame' 

 — Ed.] 



RAMBLE NO. 148. 



The Ride to Calabasas; the Success of the Section- 

 holder Super. 



BY RAMBLER. 



Mr. Brodbeck allows his bees to remain in 

 the suburbs of the city until they get the full 

 benefit of the fruit-bloom. Thiscon.sists prin- 

 cipally of apricot, peach, and orange. When 

 the atmospheric conditions are just right the 

 latter gives a large amount of nectar. The 

 fruit source of honey is over in the latter part 

 of April; the bees are then loaded on a wagon, 

 and hauled to-^ he location in the foot-hills. 



G. W. BRODBECK. 



A fine location has been secured thirty miles 

 away, near the thriving town of Calabasas. 

 Here there is a pltntiful supply of sage, wild 

 alfalfa, and buckwheat, in the hills, while the 

 plains beyond bear many other honey-produc- 

 ing flowers. The photo shows not only a por- 

 tion of the less rugged foot-hills, but also the 

 valley beyond ; and from an artistic point of 

 view, as well as for sweetness, the location is 

 unexcelled. 



The apiary is neatly arranged upon terraces. 

 The little honey-house is provided with a 

 basement for storing the hundred and one ap- 

 pliances that are found in all well-regulated 

 apiaries. During the active season the honey- 

 tank is placed in the basement, and the ex- 



