658 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Octoler 20, 



ligation as I would lilte to have done, and whellier or not 

 any other conclusion would have been formed than indicated 

 above, " I don't linow." 



Several of the colonies on the general plan also re- 

 swarmed, but I haven't a list of the number; however, all 

 were kept within bounds of increase, and the results are so 

 much in favor of the Golden plan that should I continue bee- 

 IjeepinK another season I will have all things in readiness to 

 fully adopt the Golden method, as I consider, from the experi- 

 ence of the season now closed, that the " Golden " opportunity 

 was offered, and I am glad, indeed, it was accepted by me, as 

 it has certainly been the means of gladdening me for my 

 efforts, and causing the expansion of the purse-strings which 

 otherwise would not have occurred; and I feel con6dent, let 

 the season be good or bad, Golden's plan will be "Gold," with- 

 out the " 671," in my poclset every time ; and why ? 



First, lessening of general expenses ; the buying and pre- 

 paring of hives for swarms, which increases with the size of 

 the apiary, and which cannot be very well avoided on the old 

 or general plan. Second, increast amount of honey secured 

 per colony, which is the great stimulator to the apiarist. 



And now I wish to say a little more to Mr. Deacon on hiv- 

 ing a swarm on starters, which he thinks would equal the 

 Golden method. J have never undertaken to make a test, but 

 accept the testimony of others on the matter, that to produce 

 one pound of wax or comb (which is wax) a colony of bees will 

 consume from 10 to 20 pounds of honey. If this be true, 

 then to fill out an Sframe hive with completed comb when 

 using starters would be about as follows: 



It requires 1 J4 pounds of medium brood foundation, if 

 using full sheets, to fill eight frames, Langstroth or standard 

 size. In using starters one sheet is generally the amount used 

 to fill eight frames, which would leave in actual amount 17J-2 

 ounces of wax or comb to be supplied by the bees, counting 

 that a full sheet of foundation, when drawn out, will make a 

 complete comb. Therefore, Mr. Deacon would lose in honey 

 alone to produce the full quota of combs 11 to 22 pounds of 

 honey. Docs Mr. Deacon realize this, or any part of it, to be 

 a fact? 



Golden's method — no comb to be built, sufficient stores in 

 the brood-nest of all kinds to supply hatching brood, and that 

 in progress of rearing from the egg to sealed larvae in the cells. 

 All these are factors In keeping up the strength of a colony, 

 and causing honey to go upstairs when we want it. 



Mr. Deacon was very much worried about pollen in sec- 

 tions, and Its preventive, on the Golden plan. Let me say 

 that when I came to assort and clean the sections for market, 

 I failed to find a single trace of any In the sections. Mr. Dea- 

 con, don't worry about pollen in sections, and I will tell you 

 to a certainty how to avoid it, if you can keep the secret : Use 

 drene foundation in sections, and fill the sections from the top 

 to % of an inch of the bottom, and I will guarantee no pollen 

 stored in drone-comb, either in the sections or brood-nest. 



I will venture the assertion without fear of being success- 

 fully contradicted, that the primary cause of drone-comb be- 

 ing built Is for the express purpose of storing or the reception 

 of honey, and from careful observation of the season for build- 

 ing it by the bees has caused me to adopt the theory as stated. 

 I am aware, too, that as bees build drone-comb it may be, and 

 often is, occupied by the queen, especially if prolific, as a good 

 queen, when the season gets pioductive, will improve every 

 opportunity afforded to strengthen the colony, and as no room 

 appears in worker-comb for the reception of eggs, the occupy- 

 ing of drone-comb results. This, however, does not prove the 

 intent of its production. If it was the Intent to rear bees from 

 drone-comb, then the necessary supplies would be stored in it 

 for the purpose, but one of the main factors, viz.: pollen, is 

 always absent. 



Whilst reasoning on this subject let me request that Mr. 

 Dr-acon, or any expert in apiculture, try the following experi- 

 ment: 



At the opening of spring, and prior to nectar coming in 

 from the fields, or at the close of the honey season when colo- 

 nies are most populous, take the strongest colony, take out 

 one or more frames, insert instead frames with only starters ; 

 now stimulate by moderate feeding, and see how much drone- 

 comb you can induce bees to build ; but once nectar comes 

 from Nature's resources then is the beginning, and during the 

 season of obtaining nectar from the fields so long will drone- 

 comb be built if the opportunity affords and necessity requires, 

 and the colony is in prime condition. But under no condition 

 or circumstance can a weak colony be induced to build drone- 

 comb, for the reason that no surplus honey Is collected, there- 

 fore no occasion for the production of drone-comb by the bees. 

 If I have formed a wrong conception of the cause for the 

 production of drone-comb, as stated, I hope that some of the 

 brighter lights In apiculture will direct me in the straight and 



right way. Let the right prevail, and the wrong be con- 

 demned. 



I feel now that I have fully filled my promise to Mr. Dea- 

 con, made in my former article, and even wandered from my 

 promise and purpose, which, in the beginning, was only In- 

 tended to cover a report of my honey crop ; but I will ask par- 

 don, and promise to hold my peace for some time to come, 

 after closing with what little I wish yet to add. 



1 hope Mr. Deacon and many others may be influenced to 

 try Golden's plan next season, and thereby be convinced of Its 

 merits over other methods In vogue. 



I desire now, in conclusion, to return my hearty thanks to 

 Mr. J. A. Golden and the editor of the American Bee Journal 

 — first, to Mr. Golden for writing and setting forth a treatise 

 on his system, free and untrammeled by patents, to the world ; 

 second, to the editor of the American Bee Journal for the 

 prominence he gave the article tha'. the bee-fraternity might 

 have an opportunity of learning of the Golden method, and, if 

 desiring, might put it to the test ; and also for the courtesy ex- 

 tended to me in allowing me space to reply to Mr. Deacon. 

 May both live to be honored for their interest in endeavoring 

 to advance the art and science of apiculture. 



Somerset Co., Pa. 



^ 



Answer to Questions on the Golden Method. 



BY .1. A. GOLDEN. 



The following questions have been sent me for answer In 

 the American Bee Journal : 



I wish to ask Mr. J. A. Golden, through the American Bee 

 Journal, in regard to his plan of working for comb honey, as to 

 the passage-ways or space between sections. In using 10 frame 

 hives as made at the factory, and in preparing them with the side 

 entrance he speaks of, I believe he says, to place a strip of thin 

 wood under the ends of the brood-frames, to raise them on a level 

 with the top of the brood-chamber proper. Would this make too 

 great a space under the bottom of the frames ? If so, what does he 

 do with so much space ? 



And in using two single supers prepared in the same way, and 

 put together to hive the swarm in, would not the space be too 

 great between tiers of sections ? Also lietween sections tiered up, 

 when the proper space has been provided before the outside wall 

 has been put on, which would make the space -'u-inch more. 



After hiving a swarm in the double super, and placing the par- 

 ent colony on top, how soon does he cut queen-cells to prevent 

 after-swarms ? 



As I am thinking of trying the Golden plan next year. I 

 should be glad for answers to the above. I think I understand the 

 rest of his plan all right, as I have read his articles with much in- 

 terest. From what little I have learned, I like the Golden plan the 

 best of all the plans I have read about. R. L. Hastin. 



I am glad to give Mr Hastin and all readers of the Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal the Information desired, namely, how to 

 arrange the bee-space of hives as made by the factory. 



Take, we will say, a 10 frame dovetail hive to illustrate. 

 Take a gauge set to }% Inch, and mark each top side of the 

 body, then saw down at each end, and with a draw-knife 

 shave off the }i inch. This brings the side body level with the 

 top of the brood-frames. Now lay on the % cleats on the side 

 body, and tack on the side-board flush with tlie bottom of the 

 hive, and flush with the top of the end-board, or just as wide 

 as the side board before you cut off the 'i inch strip. There, 

 now, you see you have % inch side entrance and a ^-inch 

 bee-space from the side entrance over the brood-frames. 



Now take the supers, and If you use a bee-space above the 

 sections just shave that space from the side body, lay on the 

 % cleats, and tack on the side-board flush at the bottom, and 

 as high as the end board. Now you have a ?^-lnch side space 

 and a Jii inch bee-space from the side over the top of the 

 sections. 



To make the cleats or rim for the hive to set on take 

 strips % inch thick, and as wide as the side-board space and 

 outside board is thick, say It is 1% Inches wide, and with a 

 plane level one side, leaving a space wide enough for the out- 

 side board of the hive to set on when placed on the bottom- 

 board. Now you have a % space under the brood-frames or 

 double super, and into the % side entrance up and entering 

 into the supers. See? 



Now you can change backward and forward, and always 

 have Ji Inch bee-space, but If you use the bee-space at the 

 bottom just reverse the work and raise the brood-frames by a 

 strip under the end of the brood-frames, taking the same 

 width from the bottom of the hive-body. If you winter your 

 bees on the summer stands, set the hive from the stand, turn 

 the beveled strips upside down, and replace the hive, and the 

 side entrances are closed, making a dead-air chamber or 

 space. Do you want any better winter ventilator ? I guess not. 

 I now have some 10-frame hive-bodies in use by taking 



