1906 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



429 



are placed at each end of the holder, thus 

 making an outside row, induces the bees to 

 complete them (the outside ones) much 

 sooner than if all contained the same size 

 of cells. This rapid filling of the outside 

 sections, which is due to the excess of drone- 

 size cells, affords another illustration in 

 which the unexpected happened, giving more 

 than was first expected. It 

 may be well to state in this 

 connection that the super- 

 ing surface should be suffi- 

 cient to contain from 35 to 

 40 sections in a super, or 

 approximately about 25,000 

 cells, and 50,000 upon being 

 tiered, which should be done 

 when the first set of combs 

 are about half drawn out, 

 provided the honey- flow is 

 good. In order to give em- 

 ployment to all the comb- 

 builders, as well as those 

 engaged in the storage of 

 honey, without interference 

 in their respective duties, 

 from 50,000 to 75,000 cells 

 are requisite. Let us also 

 note that a non-swarming 

 hive is imperative. I mean 

 by this, unless we keep pace 

 with our colonies in the 

 storage of honey by adding 

 supers when required, the 

 brood-apartment will be- 

 come clogged, and the build- 

 ing of burr-combs ensue, 

 thus developing a factor inducing the swarm- 

 ing impulse. The non-swarmer will be, 

 most emphatically, the hive for progressive 

 bee-keepers. 



But some one may inquire as to the quali- 

 ty of honey and the thickness of comb when 

 drone-cell foundation is used. I will simply 

 say it transcends honey in worker comb for 

 beauty, while the amount of wax per pound 

 of honey is not increased in the least. 



Another advantage contained in the non- 

 swarmer is (if properly managed) the al- 

 most complete elimination of burr- combs, 

 which are so annoying in the production of 

 comb honey. 



From 35 colonies, with an average produc- 

 tion of 128 sections per colony, the burr- 

 comb scrapings amounted to less than a 

 quart, and most of these were due to exper- 

 iments. Having conducted these experi- 

 ments to prove the correctness of the prin- 

 ciple involved in the hive, much less honey 

 was stored than would otherwise have been. 



Under the best-developed working plan, 

 my bees would doubtless have averaged 150 

 sections per colony. The activity of a new- 

 ly hived swarm does not compare with that 

 of a strong non-swarming colony when the 

 honey-flow is good. 



So rapid has been my progress in the de- 

 velopment of a non-swarmer of late, I can 

 safely say that more advance has been made 

 in the last two years than in the 15 which 

 preceded them. And what a comfort to 



keep bees with all swarming eliminated! 

 What possibilities in the maintenance of 

 out- apiaries, also, to unite the keeping of 

 bees with some other occupation! 



In producing the non swarmer, five impor- 

 tant and distinctive features essential in its 

 construction have been developed. As al- 

 ready stated, the basic principle lies in the- 



HIVE COMPLETE, WITH COVER IN POSITION. 



slatted dummies. Next came increased com- 

 munication between the hive and supers. 

 Following this, slatted ends were made in 

 the comb-frames; and, in consequence, long- 

 er dummies were used. To prevent the 

 storage of pollen in the sections, and at the 

 same time retain wide passageways, led to 

 the use of drone-cell foundation. In order 

 to increase and equalize the storage of honey 

 throughout the super, it was found advan- 

 tageous to supplement the drone-cell foun- 

 dation with worker size placed at the holder 

 ends. 



HOW I BEGAN BEE-KEEPING. 



The Value of Books and Journals; a Financial 

 Report of One Season's Success; How 

 Colonies in the Cellar are Taken 

 Care of. 



BY A. K. FERRIS. 



May 23, 1902, I bought my first colony of 

 bees. Prior to that time I was in the floral 

 and market- garden business; and finding it 

 necessary to have bees assist in fertilizing 

 my vines I began looking for a colony. It 

 was not necessary to look far, for bee-keep- 

 ers were not very enthusiastic in our loca- 

 tion. Finding one somewhat discouraged I 

 asked him what he wanted for a colony. 

 He said, "The bees, hives, and all are for 

 sale." The price was agreed on. I bought 



