954 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 15 



AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



A writer maintains that the rise of two 

 opposing' factions in an organization like 

 the National tends to a greater degree of 

 strength and purity, just as in national 

 politics we have a higher degree of purity 

 by having two political parties, one to look 

 after the other. Mr. Hill shows up this 

 fallacy as follows: 



With all due respect to Mr. H., we desire to empha- 

 size the assertion that, in regard to his observations 

 relative to the opposing factions which were formerly 

 at work in the National, he is off his base. I<egitiniate 

 competition of independent and well-organized insti- 

 tutions, whether for industrial, commercial, or politi- 

 cal purposes, is one thing; but internal ruptions, breed- 

 ing discord and strife, curtail its influence for good. 



UNIFORMITY IN HIVES, ETC. 



"Mr. Doolittle?" 



"Yes. That's my name." 



"I want to talk with you a little while 

 on several matters. Have j'ou time to do 

 this now? " 



"I am a little busy this morning-, but 

 that will not hinder, as I am always busy. 

 What is it you wish to know, Mr. Jones? " 



" I am about to make some new hives. 

 Is there any advantage in both upper and 

 lower story being just alike, so they can be 

 used together or separately? " 



"There are many advantages in having 

 all hives in use of the same size, and several 

 in having both stories just alike. Some of 

 them are as follows: In making- you can do 

 the same much faster, and with less bother; 

 you can use the upper story for the same 

 purpose you do the lower, at any time you 

 desire, which will be very often, I assure 

 you; and then, one, two, three, or more will 

 fit together like clockwork in tiering up, 

 without any outside shell whateve"!- to cover 

 them." 



"Yes, I see. .But what about the en- 

 trance? How can that be arranged? " 



" By making- the entrance in the bottom- 

 board, where it should always be. Thus, 

 this part need not aflfect the hive at all. If 

 made there, you will never have an3' bother 

 from this entrance when changing hives, 

 reversing them, changing the front for the 

 rear, or an}' such thing; and I am sure, 

 after once having hives without anj- entrance 

 cut in them, you will never go back to the 

 old plan of entrances in the hive again." 



" That seems quite simple now you men- 

 tion it; but I had not thought but that I was 

 obliged to have the entrance cut in the 

 hives as did our fathers. But we must not 

 tarry too long on any one thing lest I weary 

 you with the many questions I wish to ask 



on different subjects. I must have frames 

 for my hives. Would you advise me to buy 

 wired frames by the hundred, filled with 

 foundation? " 



" That depends upon conditions." 



" What are those conditions? " 



" If you expect to work your apiary for 

 extracted honey it might be the better plan; 

 and even if you work it for comb honey, and 

 have not the time to look after thecombs prop- 

 erly, while they are being built, or if your 

 time is very valuable, it may be the better 

 way to buy as you suggest." 



" What are the conditions under which 

 you would not think it advisable to buy? " 



"With the average bee-keeper, who has 

 some time at his or her command, I think 

 it will pay fully as well, especially where 

 the sections are filled with thin foundation, 

 to use only starters of comb or comb foun- 

 dation in the brood-frames, say from ^{ 

 inch to an inch wide, as it will to fill the 

 frames full of the same, to say nothing- 

 about the saving- of money and time. It is 

 the opinion of several of the best bee keep- 

 ers of to-day, that as much or more comb 

 honey can be secured by allowing- the bees 

 to build their comb in the brood-frames, 

 using starters as I have spoken of, than by 

 any other mode of procedure." 



" I suppose this would give me nice comb 

 honey too? " 



" Certainly. Comb honey of the most 

 fancy make can be produced in this way, 

 and the difference in selling price between 

 this and that built by a colony having old 

 black comb below, where much of the old 

 wax is worked into the capping of the sec- 

 tion honey, is an item worth looking after. 

 But, so far as I can see, just as nice honey 

 comes from a colony having frames filled 

 with foundation as does froi^n frames hav- 

 ing only starters, so this fancy section hon- 

 ey has no claims against frames filled with 

 foundation." 



" I thank you for this explanation. Now 

 I should like j'our experience regarding the 

 wintering qualities of the Italian bee as 

 compared with the German. Can the for- 

 mer stand the cold winters we have in 43° 

 north latitude as well as the latter? " 



"It is said by some that they do not; 

 and I used to believe that the black or Ger- 

 man bee was the hardier; but that was 

 before I made any careful test in the mat- 

 ter. Some 25 years ago I began to look 

 carefully into the matter of wintering; and 

 during- the experience of all these years 

 since, I have become convinced that there 

 is little if any difference in favor of either 

 along this line. Some winters the blacks 

 seem to do the better; in others, the Italians 

 come out ahead." 



"Now I wish to thank you again, and 

 will come to the main item which brought 

 me over to see you A neighbor has given 

 me some bees in box hives, because he 

 thinks they have not stores enough to win- 

 ter on. How can I feed these bees? " 



" This could have been very easily done 

 a month ago, and perhaps now, should 



