GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Feb. 1 



THE TEN-EKAME HIVE AS USED BY E. D. TOWN 

 Fig. 1 shows the old form, and Figs. 2 and 3 the new. 

 last two also show the cover raised for ventilation. 



story, however, than in the brood-nest, for 

 our extracting-frames do not have the wide 

 end-bars that form the self-spacing feature 

 of tJie Hoffman, but, instead, they are % 

 inch wide clear around, including the bot- 

 tom-bars, hence they are what is known as 

 the hanging or non-spaced frames. Such a 

 frame has no projections to hinder the un- 

 capping-knife, which is a valuable point. 

 Then one may use just as many or as few in 

 the upper stories as he sees fit, as they are 

 spaced by hand. 



We use eight of these frames in our ex- 

 tracting-supers, which are 14^ inches wide, 

 the usual ten-frame size of hive. As the 

 eight-frame hive is usually built 12}i inch- 

 es wide, seven frames is a desirable number 

 for such an upper story. There are several 

 reasons for the wide spacing of the extract- 

 ing-combs, the most important one being 

 that the combs are thereby built out beyond 

 the edge of the frame, so that they are 

 "fat." Another reason is that, instead of 

 ten, there are only eight combs to uncap 

 and extract; furthermore, more wax is se- 

 cured with the cappings than if only a very 

 thin layer were removed with the knives, as 

 in case of thin combs. In our experience, 

 two ten-frame stories containing eight 

 combs apiece may be uncapped in the same 



'I lime that would be required to 

 y uncap one story containing ten 

 .'li combs. 



THE HIVE I USE. 



Many times I have been asked 

 for a description of the hive that 

 I have adopted; and, to make ev- 

 ery thing plain, some photographs 

 were made of our hives, as we use 

 them every day. These are shown 

 in the accompanying engraving. 

 We order the hives made of white- 

 pine lumber cut heart side out. 

 SEND. This means that, if there is any 

 The warping of the lumber, there will 



be no spreading apart at the top 

 and bottom of the corners — the 

 opening, if anywhere, being at the center, 

 where it is easily nailed up. The truth of 

 the matter is, however, if the lumber is put 

 together with the heart side out, and fairly 

 well painted, there is no gap staring one in 

 the face every time he looks at a hive. 

 Most of the large hive-manufacturers have 

 seen the importance of this, and, as far as 

 possible, are cutting all material heart side 

 to the weather. 



Hive No. 1 in the illustration is of an old- 

 er pattern, showing the old style of Excel- 

 sior cover and a %-inch-thick bottom-board. 

 Nos. 2 and o are of the latest pattern, and 

 are of the style that we are now buying. 

 They are regular stock hives as manufac- 

 turers list them, except that the longitudi- 

 nal piece at the side of the bottom-board is 

 made the whole length of the bottom-board. 

 Aside from the greater rigidity of this bot- 

 tom, there is a much better opportunity for 

 fastening the bees in while moving. As 

 the width of the bottom inside of the side 

 pieces is the same as the inside width of the 

 hive (14X inches) pieces of lath 14X inches 

 long are nailed securely, with 3d wire nails, 

 to the front of the hive so that the edge ex- 

 tends down to the floor of the bottom-board, 

 thus closing the entrance. This prevents 

 the hive-body from "shucking" sidewise 



