CHAPTER V. 

 HIVES AND IMPLEMENTS. 



The safest and best rule in making or selecting hives and implements 

 for the apiary is, have them simple and accurate in construction. A plain 

 box with frames and as few other loose parts as possible will yield in 

 the hands of a skillful beemaster far better results than the most elabo- 

 rately constructed bee palace manipulated by one who does not under- 

 stand the nature and requirements of bees ; in fact, the most experienced 

 generally prefer the former. The important point to decide in connec- 

 tion with any proposed modification or adjunct of the hive is whether 

 its adoption will more than compensate for the resultant loss of sim- 

 plicity. While zealously endeavoring to preserve simplicity of construc- 

 tion, however, complete adaptability to the purpose designed must be 

 kept in view, and should not be sacrificed because of a slight added 

 expense. The bee keeper needs but few implements. With even a 

 limited number of hives, a smoker, a wax extractor, and a few queen- 

 introducing cages are the most necessary, and one or two bee veils had 

 better be added to the equipment, the total cost of which need not exceed 

 $5 to $6. If the intention be to produce comb honey, and but a few hives 

 are kept, then sections folded and with starters in place had better be 

 purchased, but with ten or more hives and time during the winter season 

 to prepare sections for the harvest, a section folder and a foundation 

 fastener, costing together about $3, may be profitably added to the outfit. 

 If only extracted honey is wanted a honey extractor with one or two 

 uncapping knives should be purchased instead of the section folder and 

 foundation fastener, the cost of the outfit being in this case some $15 to 

 $18. Fifty or even seventy-five hives may be managed conveniently 

 and economically with no greater investment in implements than that 

 indicated above, and if both comb and extracted honey are wanted the 

 cost of the outfit, it can readily be seen, need not exceed $20. 



HIVES. 



In regard to the particular style or form of hive to be used to insure 

 the best results, it should be stated that while an intelligent apiarist 

 whose experience has been considerable may be successful with almost 

 any hive, even with poor ones, there can be no doubt that a hive not 

 only adapted to the nature of the bees but also to the climate of the 

 bee keeper's particular locality, and at the same time permitting the 

 rapid performance of all operations necessary in securing surplus 

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