578 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 1 



suits by the fact that the bees can more 

 readily get at all the edges of the comb in 

 the plain section. At the sides I don't see 

 that there can be any difference in the two 

 kinds of sections, for, although the plain 

 section is narrower, the post of the fence 

 comes in to make one kind of section just as 

 wide as the Mother so far as concerns the 

 bees getting at the edge of the comb. The 

 only difference, then, is that made by the 

 "naughty corners," and they occupy i\ of 

 the entire contour of the comb. Now, ought 

 there to be so very much difference in re- 

 sults if the bees can get at the edge through- 

 out If of the contour? 



But I don't see how that can make any 

 difference— that is, any difference in the 

 matter under discussion. Remember that 

 we're not considering whether the bees will 

 do exactly the same work in the two kinds 

 of sections, but whether they will do as 

 even work in one kind as in the other. Ad- 

 mit that the bees don't do the same work 

 on fV of ^^^ outer edge in a two-beeway 

 section as they do in a plain section— admit, 

 if you like, that there's a difference through- 

 out the entire H ; whatever that difference 

 may be, is it not the same in all the two- 

 beeway sections, seeing they are all made 

 exactly alike? and, if so, how can they be 

 less uniform in weight than the plain sec- 

 tions? 



There are some other things to be consid- 

 ered. The uneven weight of sections is not 

 altogether, nor even in large part, a differ- 

 ence of sections in the same super. There 

 is a difference in bees. Here is a colony 

 that does not fill out its sections as plumply 

 as a second colony standing beside it, each 

 colony having the same kind of sections. 

 Now, do you think that, if you give plain 

 sections to each, you will do away with that 

 difference in the two colonies, making them 

 both fill out alike? There is a difference in 

 seasons, the average weight of sections be- 

 ing greater one season than another. At 

 one period in the same season, owing to a 

 difference in the flow, sections will average 

 lighter than at another time. Do you think 

 that the plain sections will even up the sea- 

 sons, and the different periods of the same 

 season? 



Please don't understand that I'm trying 

 to throw any discredit upon Mr. Crane's 

 testimony. J. E. Crane is a man whom I 

 greatly respect, and his word goes with me, 

 and I don't for a minute dispute his asser- 

 tion that he has more even weights than 

 formerly. But the reason for it is another 

 thing, and I think it remains yet to be 

 proved that the difference is owing to plain 

 sections. If he had tried the tw© kinds of 

 sections half and half in the same apiary at 

 the same time, we would have had some- 

 thing a little more conclusive. You say, 

 Mr. Editor, that those who advocate selling 

 by weight are largely beeway men, and 

 the piece- sellers plain-section men. Oh! 

 oh! oh! did you never hear of selling by 

 the piece before plain sections were heard 

 of? Are those Colorado and Canada men, 



who not only advocate selling by the piece 

 but who actually do sell by the case, are 

 they mostly plain-section men? 



You say you have noticed that old-timers 

 have stuck to the old sections, and begin- 

 ners take kindly to plain sections. I don't 

 doubt it, but I greatly dotibt your reason 

 for it, that is, prejudice on the part of old- 

 timers and the lack of prejudice on the part 

 of beginners. With your powerful influence 

 constantly urging that plain sections are 

 away ahead, and beginners taking every 

 word you say as law and gospel, what can 

 they do but to adopt plain sections? 



Admit that "old-timers" grow conserva- 

 tive — prejudiced, if you will — don't you 

 know any among them who are constantly 

 on the lookout for improvements? and don't 

 you know any of them who have tried plain 

 sections only to reject them? If they 

 thought there was money in it, don't you 

 believe they would be prompt to change? 

 Take my own case if you think I'm fairly 

 entitled to be classed with the old-timers. 

 Don't you know that I ihrew away thou- 

 sands of brood-frames because I thought 

 something else just a Utile better, and for 

 the sake of being in line witti others, al- 

 though the change in size was only § of an 

 inch? I threw away my whole outfit of 

 surplus arrangements, all as good as new, 

 and at an expense of $250 changed to some- 

 thing else because I thought it was better. 

 One of the reasons I don't paint hives is be- 

 cause of the possibihty that at any time I 

 may want to change to something better. 

 And then you'll go and hint that it's only 

 forbearanie on your part that prevents you 

 fromcallingme "mossback." "Mossback" 

 yourself— and not only to hint, but to say in 

 plain words, that we are "perhaps less able 

 to appreciate the value of a new device. " 

 Save the mark ! Why, yes; to get any thing 

 fully appreciated, don't go to one who has a 

 lot of experience, and has been on the search 

 for years for some better thing, but go to 

 one so new that he doesn't know of any 

 thing different, for of course knowledge and 

 experience dull one's capability to appre- 

 ciate, and ignorance sharpens it! 



Neither has my prejudice prevented my 

 trying the new plain sections. I've produc- 

 ed perhaps more honey in plain sections 

 than you suppose— shipped a few cases as 

 late as this year— have tried them enough 

 to satisfy myself that there's no money in 

 changing— at least no money for me— and 

 yet I'm ready to make a change whenever 

 I see any thing to be gained by it. 



Marengo, 111. 



[I will concede that the amotmt of beeway 

 in a plain section over that given to an ordi- 

 nary two-beeway section is only j^'g more 

 than the entire contour of the comb. But 

 you overlook two very important considera- 

 tions—first, that those naughty corners on a 

 beeway section lessen the actual beeway 

 by almost IJ inches. Or, to put it an- 

 other way, the passageway to the plain sec- 

 tion is almost IJ inches wider than that al- 



