296 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



the 



bee-space, and they can reach 

 sections anywhere on the frames. 



I want no more cases the full width 

 of the hive, especially where 10-frame 

 hives are used ; but I do want a 10- 

 frame hive for many reasons. One 

 very important thing is to have no 

 air-space between the two stories, as 

 it is sure to drive the bees away from 

 tlie sections. One will say it is too 

 expensive to make a hive air-tight ; 

 but it can be made so, simply by 

 painting the edge of the upper story 

 and tacking on firmly 1 or 2 thick- 

 nesses of woolen cloth. I want a nar- 

 row rim around the upper story to 

 shut down ^ inch over the lower 

 story; then, with the cloth, tlie bees 

 take to tlie outside boxes far more 

 readily. On the case, I prefer a cusli- 

 ion made of leaves ; for I know by 

 experience that it is cooler on a hot 

 day and warmer on a cool night ; in 

 short, it is a very good regulator. 



I find that where no cushion is used, 

 bees do double the gumming about 

 the sections, especially at the sides 

 and top next to the cloth; because 

 nature tells them it is too cold. The 

 hive should have not only heat but 

 moisture to a certain extent ; and a 

 cushion supplies both. 



The best cover for a hive is rooUng 

 with ventilator at each end close to 

 the roof. Strips are tacked on the in- 

 side along under the roof, 1 inch or 

 more down, and ."> or 6 inches wide. 

 Burlap is tacked all around inside of 

 the cover, but in one end in which I 

 pack hay or excelsior ; finally fasten- 

 ing the open end. This gives a cir- 

 culation of air. and affords shade ; 

 and when a cloth is spread on the 

 frames or cases, in the upper story, 

 neatly tucked down (with a cushion 

 below in winter), I have a perfect 

 bee-home, and on a hot day the bees 

 are far more comfortable. 



The question of getting bees into 

 the boxes is one of much importance. 

 I have tried many ways, and will de- 

 scribe the one which I consider the 

 best. I aim at early breeding, so as 

 to have a good force about apple- 

 bloom. I even up all colonies, so as to 

 have a strong force from all ; and it 

 can be done in no way but by early 

 feeding and proper care. 



I add frames as needed till 1 have 

 9 Langstroth size. These I spread so 

 as to fill the hive and let the bees 

 build and fill out the combs just as 

 mucli as possible ; and as there are 9 

 instead of 10 frames, there is room for 

 a lot of bees that are not really 

 needed, but yet are just what I want 

 at surplus time. 



AVhen honey comes in freely, and 

 the frames are bulged and crowded, I 

 shake off the bees and shave the 

 honey off even with the frames, and 

 place" the ones with the least brood in 

 the centre of the hive. I set first one 

 fs inch frame from the side of the 

 hive, and the others only }4 inch from 

 this, and so on to the ninth, which is 

 within % of the J^ inch division-board. 

 I now put on a case with the beveled 

 edge over the first frame close to the 

 side of the upper story. Tliis case is 

 one box narrower than the inside of 

 the hive, which covers the S) frames ; 

 but instead of a full case, 1 take out 



half the boxes and fill the space with 

 cloth, etc., and set the case with the 

 boxes at the back part of the hive, 

 covered with enameled cloth and 

 cushion. 



I add twice as much water as honey 

 to the honey shavings, and mash all 

 together and strain through a cloth ; 

 this I set on the section case in a 

 feeder, and apply the same covering. 

 Xow, as the frames are closed up, 

 and as the honey is above the sec- 

 tions, the bees are encouraged to take 

 to them. I reduce the hone>'' as it 

 obliges the bees to provide a place for 

 it. As soon as the lioney is all taken 

 down, remove the feeder, replace the 

 packing, and when the boxes are 

 fairly started, one row is set forward, 

 and a row of boxes with foundation 

 put in its place. I do not alternate 

 one of started and one of raw founda- 

 tion ; for the started ones are almost 

 sure to be bulged into the new ones ; 

 but with a whole row it is all the 

 same. 



^Ve have room for one more set of 

 boxes, which may, in time, be given ; 

 and as more bees are hatching, raise 

 this case and set another with foun- 

 dation, under ; following up and re- 

 moving as fast as they are finished. 

 Some one may say, why use so few 

 boxes. If he has measured a 28 one- 

 pound case, he will see that to fill one 

 requires 16 quarts "Where is the col- 

 ony to do this, which will rear a large 

 number of workers and leave wax- 

 workers and nurses in the hive V 



Add the large crate to an open, airy 

 hive, and we may easily account for 

 poor box work. If they show signs 

 of swarming, take a frame of brood 

 and bees from a number of hives, and 

 give them a laying queen ; carry them 

 away 2 miles, and in a short time 

 there will be a good colony. Of course 

 I replace with a frame of comb or 

 foundation. 



We must keep in mind tliat shade 

 of some sort is indispensable ; and 

 evergreens are good and last some 

 little time if only set in a can of water 

 deep in the ground. 



I believe much spring dwindling 

 can be avoided by handling the bees 

 at the proper time. V^hile we are 

 feeding in cold and chilly weather, 

 the bees will get excited, and it is 

 natural for a bee to load up and fiy 

 out, even if only a few feet from the 

 hive, and^ return. However, if we 

 manipulate, feed, etc., about dark, 

 much of the excitement is avoided, 

 both by the feed and handling. Clear 

 honey is the worst thing to excite 

 them. Bees sutfer for water, and 

 after much thought, I have invented 

 a feeder, waterer and passage way 

 over the frames, all in one. I changed 

 a colony of Italians into a clean, dry 

 hive, and they showed some uneasi- 

 ness. I put on the feeder (which 

 covers the length of the frames), and 

 in one apartment I gave syrup, and 

 the next close by I gave water with a 

 bit of salt in it ; and immediately they 

 quieted down. 



This arrangement is so made that 

 the bees cannot get drowned or fly 

 out ; yet we can see them, and it does 

 not shut off ventilation. It can and 

 ■should remain on the hive all through 



cold weather, for a passage way if for 

 nothing more. For shipping bees it 

 has no equal ; by opening it and pack- 

 ing the feed boxes with moss and in- 

 verting on the frames, the moss be- 

 ing wet, the bees have a perfect life 

 preserver. 

 North Auburn, Maine. 



For tbe American Bee Journal. 



Improved Foundation Fastener. 



W. H. SHIRLEY. 



After experimenting with several 

 methods of fastening foundation, I 

 find that the Parker foundation fast- 

 ener does the best work. On account 

 of its sliding motion, I could rely 

 upon doing a good job. 



After using it a while, and putting 

 tlie lubricants on the fastener with a 

 knife, I decided that that was too 

 dauby and slow ; so I have improved 

 it, as will be seen in tlie accompany- 

 ing engravings, and have sent one to 

 be placed in the Bee Journal mu- 

 seum. 



The improvement consists of a tin 

 cup, made to put on the bottom piece 

 of the fastener, which holds the lubri- 

 cants. To use it when the top piece 

 is back, lift up on it, and that forces 

 the front end down into the cup, and 

 you are ready to go ahead. To prevent 

 the lubricants from running down the 

 underside of the top-piece, cut a little 

 notch in the underside of the top- 

 piece, as seen in the engraving. 



Ally one who desires to improve" 

 the Parker fastener thus, can have 

 any tinsmith make one at a cost of 

 about 10 cents ; and when put on and 

 used, it will save time and daubing, 

 and work like a charm. 



Our plan, last year, was to cut a 

 cup into the bottom piece of the fast- 

 ener. This necessitates the use of a lar- 

 ger size fastener than the sections. This 

 plan, I think, would pay any man who 

 had 500 sections to fill with founda- 

 tion. It was too costly for those who 

 already had the Parker fastener ; for 

 all know it is very difficult to make 

 people see a good thing when it af- 

 fects the pocket-book. 



Glenwood, Mich. 



[The fastener is placed in the 

 Museum for the inspection of visi- 

 tors.— Ed.] 



