32 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



so much less stuck with propoHs and 

 wax. I would like to ask friend 

 Demaree a question or two. Your 

 new frames having a top bar one and 

 three-eighths wide, the section side 

 pieces being one and three-fourths to 

 two inches, what system do you em- 

 ploy in placing the case of sections 

 on in order to have the slats in each 

 correspond ? How many frames have 

 you in use and how long have you 

 tried them ? You have formed a dead 

 air space between the brood cham- 

 ber and the surplus boxes, inveighed 

 against so strongly by wiseacres. Do 

 you find any difference in the bees 

 readily going into surplus boxes in 

 comparison to the old style frame ? 

 Oneida, III. 



ADJUSTMENT OF SECTIONS 

 AND WIDTH OF HIVE. 



By G. W. Demaree. 



Dear Editor : Permit me to an- 

 swer the following questions through 

 the columns of the "Api." 



"Why not put the sections cross- 

 wise of the brood frames — would it 

 have a tendency to keep the queen 

 from the sections ? 



What width hive do you use, and 

 how many frames to it? Please an- 

 swer through the "Apiculturist" and 

 Oblige respectfully, 



Sam. F. McClurg." 



The main points in the above 

 questions have been put to me fre- 

 quently, and are worthy of discus- 

 sion. 



For two seasons I used cases with 

 the sections adjusted at right angles 



with the brood frames, and I saw no 

 difference as to the results. I tested 

 the matter on a large scale with cases 

 of both kinds. The one with the sec- 

 tions running parallel with the brood 

 frames, and the other with the sec- 

 tions at right angles with the frames, 

 and there was no perceivable differ- 

 ence as to the readiness of the bees 

 to enter the cases, or as to the amount 

 of honey obtained. As to the queen 

 entering the surplus cases, I saw no 

 difference in this respect. In fact I 

 have never been troubled with brood 

 in the sections. It is not always, 

 but it is generally bad management 

 that brings about such results. If 

 sections are placed on a hive at a 

 time when the queen is pressed for 

 room, and when but little honey is 

 being gathered, the queen is very 

 apt to take possession of the surplus 

 apartment. A simple statement of 

 the causes suggests the proper rem- 

 edy. 



My preference for a system that 

 requires the sections to run parallel 

 with the brood frames is based on a 

 question of economy. I believe that 

 it is generally admitted that the prop- 

 er position for a hive is to level it 

 from side to side, and incHne it for- 

 ward somewhat so as to drain from 

 the entrance any water that may find 

 its way into the hive, and for other 

 reasons well understood by practical 

 apiarists. This position of the hive 

 does not interfere with the straight- 

 ness of the combs in the sections if 

 they run parallel with the frames, 

 while if the sections are adjusted a- 

 cross the frames the hives must set 

 level from front to rear, as the combs 

 will likely be built out of line. It re- 



