876 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 15. 



The Heddon hive consists of a series of 

 closed-end frames, each set being confined in 

 a shallow rim or super. The frames are held 

 tightly together by means of two thumbscrews 

 passing through one side of the rim near the 

 ends. — Ed.] 



LARGE V. SMALL HIVES. 



A Decision in Favor of the Eight-frame Lang- 



siroth, and Why; the Great Resources of a 



Good Colorado Locality. 



BY M. A. GIt,Iv. 



Mr. Root : ■ — ^I have bought the home of 

 Mr. J. E. Lyon, in this city, and rented his 

 apiaries for two years, which I will run in 

 connection with mv own, which makes me be- 



ever that I, at least, can secure more surplus 

 honey with an eight-frame hive than with any 

 thing larger, especially where the season is as 

 long as it is here. The honey-flow with me 

 lasted 91 days, and I find it takes a good 

 queen, even to her utmost, to keep an eight- 

 frame hive well supplied with brood yas she 

 must) for that length of time. My best colony 

 for honey filled 12 24-lb. supers ; 11 picked 

 colonies in eight-frame hives made 100 24-lb. 

 cases of honey, while all my eight-frame hives 

 averaged 173 lbs. of comb honey. 



I do not wish to open the controversy about 

 large vs. small hives, but I candidly believe 

 that, where a person intends to keep a large 

 number of colonies, and where the season is as 

 long as it is here, and where the owner in- 

 tends to (and does) meet all the demands of 

 the bees both fall and spring, and where there 



FIG. 2. — HEDDON AND BINGHAM HIVE 



tween 700 and 800 colonies for next year. Mr. 

 Lyon's health has failed him, and he has gone 

 to a lower altitude, which we hope, with plenty 

 of rest, will fully restore his former robust 

 health. But many a man besides him would 

 have gone down under the strain of producing 

 40,000 lbs. of comb honey without any more 

 help than he had this year. We expect to be 

 very busy next year. This includes wife, two 

 daughters, a son, and myself. But we feel 

 equal to the occasion, as we intend to prepare 

 2000 supers for comb honey this winter, which 

 will enable us to start a little more than even 

 with the bees next season. 



A person can manage and care for more 

 bees here run entirely for comb honey, during 

 our long season, than in the East, where the 

 honey season is so short and sweet. I have 

 been \.ry\n^ hard for years to like a large hive; 

 but this year has convinced me more than 



is female help, that, taking into consideration 

 the cost of supplies, and the difference in hon- 

 ey delivered, there is inore real profit with 

 eight-Jrame hives than ayiy thing larger. 



What you said last winter about this section 

 of Colorado being overstocked is true ; but 

 that is not the worst feature in the case, as 

 that insidious foe to bee-keeping, foul brood, 

 has already become a menace to successful 

 bee culture in some sections. 



Having had experience with the disease in 

 my own apiaries, as well as in my office as bee- 

 inspector, I shall give it heroic treatment 

 whenever it shows up among my own bees. 



Longmont, Colo., Oct. 22. 



[J. E. Lyon is one of the most progressive 

 and most successful bee-keepers in Colorado. 

 I met him, both at the convention where he 

 took a conspicuous part, and also at his home. 



