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THE 



Gleanings in Bee Culture 



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ASPINWALL NON-SWARMING HIVE UP 

 TO DATE. 



BY L. A. ASPINWALL. 



Since your delineation of the Aspinwall 

 liive in Gleanings some time ago, imi)or- 

 tant changes have been made, which, with 

 two seasons' experience, have resulted favor- 

 ably, both as to cost of construction and the 

 l^ractical results to be obtained. 



When first described in the Bee-keepers'' 

 Review and CiLEANINGS, the cost according 

 to my judgment was an insui)erable barrier 

 to its general introduction, notwithstand- 

 the proiluct was double that from colonies 

 in ordinary hives, and although pressed on 

 every side by inquiries for hives, I did not 

 feel justified in making any, even for test- 

 ing purposes. That was something I could 

 do in my own yard. 



The slatted separators in the supers of my 

 hives cost as much as or more than the 

 lower story or brood-chamber with its fur- 

 nishings. The hive as now- constructed has 

 no separators, either slatted or plain, and 

 is adapted to either the T super or those 

 comjjosed of section-holders. All together 

 it is nearly as cheap in construction (taking 

 into consideration that four supers are used) 

 as the orilinary commercial hive. 



THE ASPINWALL NON-SWARMING HIVE. 



While there was a degree of uncertainty 

 as to the absolute control or prevention of 

 swarming with my former type of hive, 

 thus far perfect success has been achieved 

 with my latest pattern. 



The elimination of separators in the su- 

 pers, and the use of slatted frames equal in 



width alternating the brood-frames, has 

 made if possible to place double the number 

 of sections directly upon the brood-frames, 

 all of which are in perfect alignment with 

 the bee-si)aces below. 



With my former type of hive, the lack of 

 a sufficient number of sections in immedi- 

 ate proximity to the brood-combs was where 

 it fell down — only the foundation contain- 

 ed in oo sections as a working surface to 

 prevent swarming absolutely. We now 

 place 70 sections in close proximity to the 

 brood, and withal no separators to hamper 

 their workings or attach burr-combs to. 



The question will naturally arise as to the 

 product being commercially uniform in ap- 

 pearance and weight. Thus far the results 

 have been satisfactory. Two sui)ers of 35 

 sections each, the bee-spaces of which are in 

 perfect alignment, and in accordance with 

 the workings of the colony in nature, afford 

 a uniform and equal distribution of warmth 

 throughout the supers. In addition to this, 

 the use of supers in pairs admits of revers- 

 ing from side to side to equalize further the 

 work of comb-l)uilding. 



When the supers are about half filled, a 

 reversal, placing the outer side of each at 

 the center, or place of greatest warmth, re- 

 sults in beautifully filled sections. This 

 feature, including the perfect alignment 

 and consequent ehmina- 

 tion of separators, has 

 made the construction 

 of a non-swarming hive 

 possible; and I some- 

 times wonder why it 

 should have consumed 

 so many years of my 

 time, incividing thou- 

 sands of dollars. 



I must here give ex- 

 pression to the fact that 

 unexpected changes are 

 brought about by inven- 

 tion. Referring solely to 

 hive construction, I have 

 been compelled to aban- 

 don the plain sections 

 in favor of the beeway. 

 However, I do so glad- 

 ly, inasmuch as it has 

 enabled me to accom- 

 plish greater success in 

 the much sought-for ob- 

 ject than ever before. 

 Jackson, Mich., May 28. 

 [Mr. Aspinwall, as 

 our older readers know, 

 is an inventor of some 

 note, having designed a 

 large number of successful farm implements 

 in connection with the iiotato-growing in- 

 dustry. Prominent authorities have called 

 swarming the bane of modern bee-keeping. 

 This may not always be true, but certain it 

 is that any plan for controlling swarming is 

 welcome. — Ed.] 



