1192 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 15 



fence, and perhaps use some without any, 

 and, contrary to my convictions, with full 

 sheets of foundation. 



UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS ONE CAN AFFORD 

 TO MAKE HIS OWN HIVES. 



Before closing this article I would ask 

 permission to digress a little and speak of 

 two features which have been the subject 

 of discussion at different times by two 

 prominent members of the bee-keeping fra- 

 ternity. I invite the reader, Mr. Hutchin- 

 son in particular, to notice the mechanical 

 points of the apiarian outfit represented by 

 our illustrations. Every thing seen in the 

 line of hives and appliances is home-made 

 Mr. H.'s argument in favor of bee-keepers 

 making their own hives is all right in some 

 cases, but not in general. We have power- 

 saws and all necessary attachments to cut 

 up hive material in workmanlike manner; 

 otherwise it would be cheaper and more con- 

 venient for us, and for all bee-keepers who 

 have not these facilities at their command, 

 to call on some of our leading manufactur- 

 ing establishments for their supplies. 



Then, again, the paint question is well il- 

 lustrated. Some of the hives have been in 

 use nearly 30 years, and from outward ap- 

 pearance would pass for recently rnade 

 goods. With the same care they bid fair to 

 last for several generations yet to come. 

 Their state of preservation is directly due to 

 an occasional coat of paint. Mr. Doolittle's 



BEE-TREE HUNTING. 



SWEET CLOVER AS A HONEY PLANT. 



anti-paint theory may save a little expense 

 at first, but in the long run it is, in my opin- 

 ion, misplaced economy. It is conceded by 

 all careful business men that the judicious 

 outlay of paint, especially if applied as a 

 protection against atmospheric influences, is 

 a paying investment. 

 La Salle, N. Y. 



[As you suggest in your article, it would 

 seem more probable that you would have se- 

 cured better results if you had had a more 

 open separator. Bees do not like a big 

 double-tier wide frame, or, if you please, a 

 Langstroth frame all cut up with little divi- 

 sions. This fact was clearly demonstrated 

 to us last summer with our small baby nu- 

 cleus frames in large Langstroth frames. 

 Now, if you make eight of them two inches 

 wide, and put solid separators between each 

 set of frames, you are introducing conditions 

 not altogether liked by the bees. It is true 

 that, years ago, we produced comb honey 

 with just such appliances; but single- tier su- 

 pers, where the heat can be confined, and 

 supers are more open, give better results 

 as a rule. 



In regard to the subject of hiving-making, 

 the correspondence in our office shows that 

 you are right. One can not afford to make 



