1906 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



427 



overcome a crowded condition of the brocd- 

 nest. 



The introduction of slatted frames, or 

 dummies, previous to the swarming season, 

 I have found to be the great essential in 

 overcoming the crowded condition, thus re- 

 tarding the swarming impulse. This plan 

 has been the basic or foundation pr nciple of 

 all my experiments since 1893. The thick- 

 ness, size, and number of these slatted 

 frames have been wonder- 

 fully changed during the 12 

 years which have followed. 

 I now arrange the comb- 

 frames with slatted dum- 

 mies between them, and 

 on both sides and ends of 

 the hive, which includes a 

 new frame. While I have 

 used slatted dummies at 

 the sides for years, the 

 new frame was first made 

 with the view of rapid han- 

 dling, and to prevent the 

 killmg of bees thereby. By 

 reference to the accom- 

 panying illustration a slat- 

 ted extension a.'^ each end 

 of the frame will be seen. 

 As already stated, through 

 the tendency of bees to 

 crowd the brood- nest, the 

 slntted portion, although 

 filled with them upon open- 

 ing the hive and removing 

 the frames, will almost in- 

 stantly become free for 

 closing, by their movement 

 toward the combs It is 

 evident that a sufficient dis- 

 tance of slatted space be- 

 tween the combs and end- 

 bars may be employed which 

 would extend entirely beyond the reach of 

 the strongest colony during the warmest 

 weather. But there is a mean distance 

 which is practically right. This I have made 

 to conform to the number of sections, five of 

 which are used in each holder contained in 



the super. We will nuw see that, with ad- 

 ditional length of the slatted dummies, 

 which, together with the improved frames, 

 tend to expand the colony, also affords free 

 rnoyement of the bees at either end, thus re- 

 Heving the tendency to become crowded at 

 the side where the bees enter in greatest 

 numbers during a honey- flow. Further- 

 more, we have the combs, by reason of the 

 slotted ends, most thoroughly protected from 



SLATTED DUMMY FOR USE IN BROoD NtST. 



SLATTED DUMMY FOR USE IN SUPER, 



TOP VIcW OF BKOoD-NEST, SHOWING UPPER EDGES OF 

 SLATTED DUMMIES. 



the outside heat during very warm weather, 

 wh'ch is another factor overcome in the pre- 

 vention of swarming. 



THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE COMMUNICATION 

 WITH THE SUPER. 



As with the development of 

 mechanical contrivances, we 

 find intricacies, evolving and 

 forming a part of a non- swarm- 

 ing hive. Not only must the 

 ciowded condition be overcome, 

 I ut much greater access afford- 

 ed the bees for entermg the su- 

 pers. Who has not noticed sec- 

 tions, well filled with honey, 

 having the lower edges of the 

 wood gnaw d by the bees? This, 

 to the thoughtful mind, is an 

 evidence of their requirements. 

 It is equivalent to a demand for 

 wider openings. By reference 

 to the accompanying illustra- 

 tion, a plan or top view of the 

 hive may be seen, showing the 

 comb- frames and dummies al- 

 ternating each other. Instead 

 of the latter having wide top- 



