274 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



me was of my own invention, but I 

 have seen fit to follow in the tracks 

 of others so that I am quietly steal- 

 ing away. 



To speak the truth I never could 

 see much, if any, advantage in rever- 

 sion except to cause honey to be 

 carried from the brood-chamber into 

 the surplus receptacles ; but again I 

 remember that honey did not accu- 

 mulate in the brood-chamber when 

 the brood-chamber was not too large 

 for the capacity of the queen, or 

 when there was a lack of surplus 

 room. When the Langstroth frames 

 were given to beekeepers, there began 

 a grand season of prosperity ; but as 

 nature and custom must have it, the 

 prosperity is getting monotonous and 

 a change is desired. 



This change or revolution, as some 

 have seen fit to call it, was expected 

 in the reversible frame. Where the 

 most forward ones had worked the 

 matter up to the highest pitch the 

 swaying indicated that they were 

 mistaken and must retire. 



Then came a short lull or rest as 

 of boatmen resting on their oars. 

 Then the leaders, or those who at- 

 tempted to say and do the most, be- 

 gan to feel the chagrin ; and being 

 courageous, and bound not to be out- 

 done, launched out for something to 

 maintain an appearance and settled 

 upon sectional hives. Had they 

 stopped a moment to view the situa- 

 tion it is probable that they would 

 not have taken so great a stride as 

 lies between the reversible-frame and 

 sectional hive. It is quite apparent 

 that the two extremes were adopted 

 while the happy mean remained to 

 await the grasp of other hands. 



It has always seemed reasonable 

 that a revolution should come to api- 

 culture. Its history needs such rev- 

 olutions that it may be complete. 

 There have been several already and 

 I feel safe in saying that the end re- 

 mains unsurpassed. 



The Langstroth frame brought a 

 ^1-eat revolution and I believe that 



when we contrive to prevent swarm- 

 ing and drone production, and 

 succeed in securing our honey just 

 where the bees wish to store it, in- 

 stead of building up the colonies to 

 the swarming condition and a little 

 beyond before the bees enter the sec- 

 tions, another revolution will be the 

 result. 



As one is not supposed to talk of 

 something he knows nothing about, I 

 will say that I have invented and tested 

 a contrivance of this very description 

 and that it meets every advantageous 

 requirement with one exception. 

 With its help an apiary was worked 

 through this season without the issue 

 of a swarm, and the sections were 

 placed where the bees wished to put 

 the honey. 



When it was first invented, I sup- 

 posed it combined ideas outside of 

 which a meritorious contrivance to 

 meet similar requirements could not 

 exist ; but, as I have since been told 

 that there are those of greater excel- 

 lence under way of perfection, I am 

 waiting for future developments. 



When I contrived the fixture, of 

 which I have spoken, it was supposed 

 that one reversal of the combs was 

 death to all embryo queens ; but I 

 have since learned that it is a mistake. 



In order to have the queen cells 

 destroyed, because of inversion of 

 the combs, it becomes necessary to 

 employ inversion of the combs once 

 in every five days. In using my con- 

 trivance, the inversion of queen cells 

 with the combs in single-story hives is 

 quite practical ; but, if there are sev- 

 eral stories or cases to be removed, 

 before the lower story containing the 

 brood is reached, it renders its use for 

 this purpose practically out of the 

 question. When we have our comb 

 honey built in that part of the hive 

 where the bees wish to store the 

 honey, and when we are enabled to 

 take complete advantage and control 

 of the swarming impulse, then will 

 our methods be a step in advance of 

 the methods practised to-day. 



