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AMERICAN BEE JOURMAu 



Does it Pay to Paint Hives ?- 

 so, What Paint is Best ? 



-If 



Query 847.— 1. In the long run, is it more 

 economical to keep hives well painted? 2. If 

 advisable to paint them, what kind of paint is 

 the most durable ?— J. P. W. 



1. Yes. 2. Pure white lead with raw 

 oil. — A. B. Mason. 



1. Yes. 2. Pure white lead and oil. — 

 Mrs. J. N. Heateb. 



1. Yes. 2. Boiled linseed oil and 

 white lead. — J. M. Hambaugh. 



1. Yes. 2. We use good mixed paints, 

 or white lead. — Dadant & Son. 



1. It is. 2. Pure white lead toned to 

 suit the taste. — J. P. H. Bbown. 



1. It certainly is. 2. Good white lead 

 and linseed oil is the best I have used. — 

 M. Mahin. 



1. Yes. 2. Two parts of French yel- 

 low ochre ground in oil, to one part of 

 white lead ground in oil. — G. L. Tinkeb. 



1. A part of my hives are painted, 

 and a part not. Aside from looks, I 

 doubt the advisability of painting hives. 



— G. M. DOOLITTLE. 



1. Yes. 2. I have never used any- 

 thing but white lead and oil, except 

 some mixed paints which did not prove 

 durable. — James A. Gbeen. 



1. I think it more economical to keep 

 them painted, but perhaps not well 

 painted. I would not paint them too 

 often. 2. I can't tell. — R. L. Taylob. 



1. Yes, in my opinion, most decidedly. 

 2. I think pure lead and oil is the best ; 

 a little color can be added at fancy, but 

 white is preferable, as a rule. — J. E. 

 Pond. 



1. Possibly the best plan is to paint 

 covers and not bodies. 2. A cheap 

 brown paint has lasted well for me, but 

 a lighter color may be better. — C. C. 

 Miller. 



1. Yes, and always give them another 

 coat when not in use. 2. There is noth- 

 ing better than white lead and linseed 

 oil. Color may be added to suit the 

 fancy. — C. H. Dibbern. 



1. Yes, when lumber is of average 

 price, or over. 2. The best paint at the 

 price, is that lately described by Glean- 

 ings. I know by experience, with some- 

 thing much similar. — James Heddon. 



1. Yes, paint the hives. 2. As to 

 durability, look about your county, and 

 see what kinds of paint are most dur- 

 able. Dark paints are durable, but not 

 always desirable for hives. — E. France. 



1. It is. 2. I have often wondered at 

 the shortsightness of bee-keepers of pre- 

 tense in this direction. 2. I prefer white 

 lead paint. Dark colors absorb too 

 much heat in warm weather. — W. M. 

 Baenum. 



1. I don't know. Perhaps not. I 

 think painting is more for appearances 

 than economy. I like to see them paint- 

 ed. 2. Any light colored material that 

 would be durable on the outside of a 

 dwelling. — Eugene Secob. 



1. Yes, by all means. 2. First coat 

 pure lead and oil ; second coat, half lead 

 and zinc, with oil and turpentine. The 

 zinc prevents the lead from chalking, 

 and with the addition of a little turpen- 

 tine, makes a hard coat that will not 

 peel nor rub off. — H. D. Cutting. 



Yes, if they are movable-frames. If 

 simply a box-hive, perhaps not. White 

 lead and oil (raw linseed oil) is as good 

 as any. Of paints ready mixed for use, 

 there are none better than Harrison 

 Bros.' "Town and Country" ready 

 mixed paints, New York and Philadel- 

 phia. — Mbs. L. Habbison. 



1. I don't think so, but I do think it 

 pays on the score of appearance. I don't 

 believe it pays in dollars and cents to 

 paint buildings, but my house and barn 

 are well painted. 2. I think good white 

 lead and zinc in oil, tinted to suit the 

 taste of the owner, or better, his wife. 

 The writer has excellent taste, but his 

 wife is way ahead of him. — A. J. Cook. 



1. Yes, sirree, it is in this country. 2. 

 I have not yet found a better paint to 

 stand this climate than pure lead and 

 oil. By the way, let me tell you how to 

 make a pretty clouded hive. Use pure 

 white lead and boiled linseed oil. Then, 

 after you spread on the last coat, take a 

 carpenter's broad pencil and make wavy 

 lines all over the hive, or any figure you 



