148 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Mar. 



' , 



the editor's remarks on page 423 (1894), and also those of 

 Mr. Richardson on page 690. I thinli it is plain to every 

 thinking mind that the North American should cut a larger 

 swath ; then, if it is possible to adopt some plan by which a 

 respectable number of the bee-keepers of the country could 

 be induced to identify themselves with the Association, it 

 certainly should be done. I believe that if some of our prom- 

 inent bee-keepers will interest themselves in this matter, and 

 agitate the subject, much good may come of it, and cause the 

 Association to take a great step forward. To accomplish this, 

 I fully agree with Editor York and Mr. Richardson, that more 

 meetings and more scope should be given the Association. 



To illustrate : I would be in favor of dividing the whole 

 country in four grand divisions, with one as headquarters and 

 three branch associations. Suppose we say for No. 1, all that 

 part of the country lying east of the Mississippi and Ohio 

 rivers, and east of Lakes Erie and Ontario and the St. Law- 

 rence river. No. 2, all between and north of the Mississippi 

 and Ohio rivers, including Ontario and Quebec. No. 3 all 

 west of the Mississippi river and south of the north line of 

 Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. 

 No. 4, all west of the Mississippi river and north of the line 

 of those states named, including British Columbia. Those 

 divisions would meet near the center of the country. If any 

 thing comes of this, those lines could be fixed by the Associa- 

 tion. I simply illustrate the matter. 



Now, then, suppose the headquarters was moved from one 

 division to another each year, and the president of each 

 branch association was a vice-president of the parent associa- 

 trou ; then if each grand division held two meetings each year, 

 and supposing there were ten states or districts in each 

 division, and the presidents of the State associations were 

 vice-presidents of the associations in their respective divisions, 

 and in turn if each county president was a vice-president in 

 the State associations, it would come very near making one 

 grand, harmonious whole, and all bee-keepers taking an 

 interest in them could feel that they were a part of the great 

 North American Bee-Keepers' Association. 



Friends, shall we try to do something to endeavor to 

 create more interest and a more fraternal feeling among our 

 bee-keepers? I presume all will admit that something of the 

 kind is needed — it is needed for the protection of our common 

 interest, such as producing and disposing of the product of 

 the honey-bee, and to preserve them against their enemies, 

 etc. Our bee-keepers, like the rest of mankind generally, 

 join the association more or less for the benefits that they 

 expect to receive ; then, in order to be successful, each asso- 

 ciation should take an interest in and try to adopt plans or 

 methods for the benefit of its paying members. 



Now suppose there were more associations and more meet- 

 ings, would it not create a spirit of good-natured rivalry to 

 excel each other in disseminating knowledge for the benefit 

 of the whole ? I have no personal interest in this matter, 

 only a desire for the general good. One reason for throwing 

 out these few general outlines is, whether anything comes of 

 this agitation or not, I wish to see the West and South stand 

 up and be counted with the balance of the country. While 

 some of our bee-keepers may be more or less selfish, they are 

 nearly all good-natured, and if some system could be adopted 

 that would cause more meetings and more greetings, then, as 

 they became better acquainted with each other, it would have 

 a tendency to smooth down the rough spots, and as they 

 would oftener meet to shake hands and exchange kindly 

 greetings, they would be induced to form higher and better 

 opinions of each other. As for myself, I consider this far 

 above worldly wealth, for who woula sell, if they could, those 

 kind memories of the past? 



Again, looking to the benefits that may be obtained by 

 a move in this direction, we could at least have the question- 

 box for the benefit of our bee-keepers, with much more satis- 

 faction than they have now. The best method for wintering was 

 asked for at the Chicago meeting, and " What can we do with 

 foul brood ? " was asked at St. Joseph. Where are the 

 answers to those vital questions ? Echo answers, " Where ?" 



I have had many inquiries of late in regard to lucerne. 

 While I cannot vouch for what it may, or may not, do in the 

 East, I believe it will do well in the South. It is one of, 

 the very best paying crops here. One of our bee-keepers, 

 Mr. Eastman, who has been a near neighbor to Dr. Miller, 

 spent a few days with me in December. He was astonished 

 when be looked at the slick coats of my horse and cow, when 

 I informed him that I fed them exclusively on lucerne. 

 My five best colonies of bees, the past season, gathered 1500 

 pounds of honey, mostly from lucerne. 



If possible, I would like to hear from some of those I 

 sent seed to last spring. Salt Lake City, Utah. 



The Size of Hives and Frames. 



BY W. C. GATHKIGHT. 



I have been much interested in the articles on hive con- 

 struction by F. L. Thompson and Edwin Bevins. I would be 

 glad to hear what others have to say who have tried those 

 deeper frames. 



I like the S-frame width for several reasons. It is easier 

 to handle, takes so much less room in hauling and shipping 

 bees, and, last and most important of all is, it seems to be 

 wide enough for any colony of bees. But it is not deep enough 

 to hold all the brood and bees a good queen can produce. 

 Make the frames 2 inches deeper, and I believe that 8-frames 

 will be much better than 10 Langstroth size, or 8 frames, 

 either. 



I am aware of the fact that the majority of the answers 

 to Query 950 say no, but with such bee-men as the Dadants 

 on my side, I feel pretty safe. 



The objection made by some, to deep frames are, 1st. 

 That they are not so easily handled ; 2nd. They are not so 

 good for comb honey as shallow frames ; 3rd. They don't want 

 two sizes of frames in the apiary ; 4th. They are not the 

 " Standard." 



In regard to the first objection, I say I believe I can 

 handle 8 deep frames quicker than I can 10 shallow ones. 

 Bear in mind I am speaking of frames of brood, not honey. 

 I would not recommend frames of this depth for extracting. 



The theory seems to be that the deeper the frame, the 

 more trouble it is to get it out without killing bees, but so long 

 as the frame is considerably longer than it is deep, the differ- 

 ence is so small as to hardly be noticeable. But suppose you 

 make the frame as deep, or deeper than it is long, then there 

 would be trouble. 



2nd. My experience teaches me that plenty of bees for 

 the honey-flow is of more importance than any other one 

 thing. Then, as the deeper frame winters bees better, is more 

 suited to the queen's requirements, affording her room to lay 

 her eggs in a circle without having to cross a bee-space and 

 nearly 1 Ji inches of wood, I ask why is it not so good for 

 comb-honey ? 



3rd. I wonder how many bee-keepers there are who 

 extract from the brood-chamber — I do not, and I don't know 

 of any who do. Half-depth frames seem to be gaining favor. 

 With brood-frames 1154^ in. deep, our half-depth frames would 

 be 5J-2 inches, allowing H in. for bee-space. This I think 

 would be a much better size than the half-depth Langstroth 

 frame, which is, I think, entirely too narrow. The regular 

 standard simplicity frame would be good to use in the supers 

 for extracting, and I would think very seriously before dis- 

 carding it for something else. 



4th. As Mr. Thompson has quite covered the ground on 

 this point and some others that I have omitted (See page 595 ; 

 Nov. 8, 1894), I will skip over this. 



I think this line would be quite interesting and profitable 

 for experiment, and should it be demonstrated that something 

 else is better than the standard size, let us begin to work 

 toward it and ere long the best will be the standard. We are 

 living in a progressive age, and bee-keepers, of all others, 

 should not be satisfied to merely follow in the old ruts of those 

 who have gone before, but strive to attain to the highest point 

 of perfection in the science of our beloved pursuit. 



Cameron, Tex. 



A Consideration of the Bee for Business. 



BY DR. J. P. H. BROWN. 



That type or variety of bees that can obtain or collect the 

 greatest amount of nectar is unquestionably the most profita- 

 ble for the bee-keeper. 



A novice judging from the advertisements of five-banded 

 bees, would at once infer that they were a new variety. Such 

 is not the case. They are only the pure Italians, or a cross 

 with Cyprian blood, bred up. Besides, the queens do not 

 invariably produce all five-banded workers, but often more 

 three or four banded. 



I like to see a beautiful yellow bee. They look nice. "A 

 thing of beauty is a joy forever." It is really a grand sight to 

 see a lot of young golden beauties playing out — taking their 

 first fly in front of their hive on a clear, sunny day, with the 

 light peering through their yellow bands. 



Now for a bit of bee-history: I got my first Italians in 

 1870. 1 purchased queens from a number of different 

 breeders. I got queens from Mr. Alley that produced very 

 yellow-banded workers — some showed four and five bands ; 

 while those from Dr. Hamblin (long since dead) bred workers 



