62 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



llie weather changes and turns very cold, 

 and much damage is done by the chilling 

 of brood. I find it bad practice to open the 

 hives much before drones are beginning to 

 fly freely and honey coming in, as the bees 

 are inclined to be cross otherwise, and 

 sometimes the queens disappear, the latter 

 frequently where clipping is done too early 

 in the season. 



We cover with the regular escape-board, 

 deep side down. This enables the bees to 

 cross from frame to frame, and they will 

 never be found dead in the spring with 

 honey in the adjoining frames. We place 

 the packing on this board, burlap sacks and 

 newspajDers, and use the A-shaped cover, 

 shingled. This makes an ideal cover, with 

 good ventilation in summer, and always 



perfectly dry. The covers are heavy and 

 will not blow off. 



I do not like the idea of opening the 

 hives so late in the season ; but it enables 

 us to work fast, and there is no fear of 

 robbers getting the upper hand. We try to 

 choose a day when the bees will take a flight 

 during the warmer part. 



If any of your readers are troubled with 

 skunks I have found it a very good plan to 

 place a pane of window glass on the alight- 

 ing-board. This will cast a reflection from 

 the stars and sky, as one passes by; and 

 these night prowlers fight shy of anything 

 that apparently moves which they do not 

 understand. They are said to be easily 

 trapped, but I have not found it so. 



Cincinnati, Ohio. 



SOME UNCOMMON HIVES 



BY E. G. CARR 



Not the least interesting of the tilings 

 which enter into the bee inspector's life are 

 the different types of hives which he sees — 

 not alone the nail-keg and grocery-store 

 box, but also the home-made hives upon 

 which has been put much care, labor, and 

 considerable expense. These statements 

 apply with special emphasis to New Jersey, 

 since there are so many beekeepers in this 



The Polish hive is similar to a cupboard. 



state from foreign lands, and it is the rule 

 for these to cling to the ideas of the mother 

 country. It is seldom they do not make 

 considerable effort to provide a good home 

 for the bees. 



Perhaps the oddest type from the view- 

 point of the American beekeeper is the 

 Polish hive shown in the illustration. This 

 is made similar in appearance to a cup- 

 board, and it houses 

 three to eight colo- 

 nies or families. The 

 liive in the picture is 

 made for eiglit colo- 

 nies and is owned by 

 Mr. R. Kohlos, of 

 Woodbury, N. J. In 

 the illustration show- 

 ing the rear of the 

 liive is seen Mrs. 

 Kohlos, who is a 

 very able bee-woman. 

 It will be noticed 

 that the frames of 

 this odd liive are 

 crosswise of the en- 

 trance, and either 

 hang on metal rab- 

 bets or fit into the 

 grooves in the hive- 

 sides, and are re- 

 moved from the back 

 of the hive. It is, of 

 course, necessary in 

 getting at a particu- 

 lar frame to remove 

 all frames in front 

 of it. 



