1900 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



297 



themselves up, and are given to understand 

 that siding with the movement might impair 

 their personal interests. 



5. Apathy on the part of some who do their 

 thinking by proxy. 



6. Jealousy on the part of some who fear 

 that their neighbors may be as much, or pos- 

 sibly more, benefited through the Exchange 

 than themselves. 



7. Dissensions caused by differences of opin- 

 ion as to how to proceed, and upon what plan 

 the business shall be conducted. We have 

 had our share of these, but, thank the Lord ! 

 I think they are a thing of the past. The 

 school of adversity has taught us to look to 

 results rather than mode or manner. 



Our impressions of men and measures are too 

 often superficial, being founded upon imper- 

 fect knowledge as to men, and meager expe- 

 rience as to measures. It seems to me to be 

 humanly impossible for any one to arrive at a 

 true solution of the problems involved in the 

 workings of the exchange principle in the 

 short period of one year, which length of 

 time comprises the whole of our ex-president's 

 experience in California. Others who have 

 large interests here, and years of experience 

 also, are not so ready to condemn the move- 

 ment, even by implication, unless prepared to 

 suggest something better. Too often we reach 

 down into our minds and bring forth our 

 thoughts, and put our brooding hypotheses 

 into words, and show our acumen, and the 

 searching quality of our discernment by shap- 

 ing our conclusions and offering them to be 

 examined. Talk of this kind does not con- 

 sist of sworn statement. It is merely conver- 

 sation, where fact is scarce, opinion abundant, 

 and conjecture overflowing. 



After years of study I declare to you that I 

 see no other salvation except in some form of 

 co-operation. You may call it a "combine," 

 an "association," an "exchange," or a 

 "trust," if you will, and try to legislate it out 

 of existence. 



Self-preservation is the first law of nature, 

 and men must and will combine in further- 

 ance of their mutual interests. Mistakes, 

 many mistakes, have been, and doubtless 

 many more will be made while seeking the 

 best method of organization ; but surely these 

 mistakes should not discourage us, should not 

 deter us from profiting by our past experience. 

 There is no half-way place. We are fighting 

 for our very existence, and we must be prepar- 

 ed to meet conditions as we find them. 



These conditions are plain to all. Why, 

 even the newsboys on the streets of this city 

 to-day recognize them and are organized — as- 

 sociated together for the protection of their 

 interests. Shall it be said that bee-keepers 

 who, as a class, are among the most intelligent 

 people in the world, can not or will not com- 

 bine for the good of each other ? 



I feel deeply, earnestly in this matter. Three 

 years now as secretary of the Exchange, I 

 have been in close touch with the commercial 

 world, and have had abundant opportunity to 

 see the inside workings of affairs ; and I tell 

 you truly that, if you attempt to " go it alone, ' ' 

 you will go as a lamb to the slaughter. You 



will be the legitimate prey of every harpy that 

 seeks to live off the sweat of honest toil. 

 Lang, Cal. 



>^. .»««»«« 



BINGHAM'S EXPANSIVE HIVE. 



Its Special Features; How Constructed. 



BY T. F. BINGHAM. 



This is composed of 7 tight-end frames 

 clamped or lashed together with a wire link or 

 loop which is tightened by a stick which 

 spreads the link, thereby shortening it so as to 

 hold firmly the movable sides against the 

 frames, rendering the whole practically a box 

 which rests on a loose bottom-board having 

 on either of its two edges a square strip ^ 

 inch by 24. These strips, it will be seen, 

 leave an entrance the length of the sides of 

 the hive. Above this hive is a clamp (or su- 

 per) holding 18 one-pound sections. 



That is all there is of the hive. If not large 

 enough, any number of just such hives and 

 clamps of sections may be set under or over it 

 to suit conditions. 



A r 





It is desirable to have a weather case or box 

 to slip over the clamp of sections and hive ; 

 but it may be used without, with a wide board 

 laid on top to keep off the rain and sun. 



The 7 frames hold 20 lbs. of honey net, and 

 the hive and honey and bees weigh 24 lbs. — so 

 light that any lady can move it to any part of 

 the apiary. 



In the fall, when the season is over, all hives 

 not required to hold honey for winter are tak- 

 en away and stored. Two such hives are am- 

 ple to accommodate any colony of bees from 

 September till May. 



A very small colony will breed up rapidly 

 in such a hive at any breeding season, while 

 in the spring' they are a wonder and a surprise. 



People who have never handled frames so 

 lashed together can form no real conception 

 of the ease and satisfaction in their manipula- 

 tion. 



