534 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Aug. Si, 



The disproportioaata fra'n 1 length m ly n)t cut. so promi- 

 nent a figure in a southern California climate as iu nortiiern 

 latitudes — Colorado, for example. In Colorado tlie nights, 

 even late in the spring, are surprisingly cliilly. Then the 

 middle of the days are as warm and surisliiny. In hives facing 

 south the sun beat/s against the end so warmly that it draws 

 the brood toward that end compacjtiy against the end-bars of 

 the frames, and to the very corners. Wheie there was brood 

 in 8 combs, it was placed so far to the south that 6 inch»« of 

 the north ends of the combs might have been removed without 

 disturbing a cell of brood. 



In Wisconsin there are more clouds during the days, and 

 the days and nights are nearer of an even temperature. When 

 two colonies are placed side by side, with an inch of pressed 

 cbafT between the hives, the brood in each colony occupies the 

 side of the hive nearest its neighbor. Even the side combs 

 contained brood on both sides. The remote sides of the hives 

 were unprotected, and the weather inclement. If brood will 

 be placed far away from the cold end of a Colorado hive, why 

 would it not be placed as far as possible from the four sides of 

 the Wisconsin hive? 



When a lU-frame hive \\ changed to an 8-frame, by tak- 

 ing away two frames, it forms a chamber which Is really 

 longer, in effect, than the original 10-frame chamber because 

 of the narrowed brood sphere. In otiier words, arid in consid- 

 eration of climates, kinds of weather and different seasons, 

 there is less consegnence in hnw much space is removi d than 

 in how it is removed. Working against the natural tendency 

 wastes warmth and energy. 



Had there not remained a broodless space in the ends of 

 the conibs of the 10 frame hive, the <S-frame hive would 

 never have suggested itself. Nearly every one who went 

 down to 8-frames has wished that he were back again. In- 

 stead of decrf asing the number of frames, why not try the 

 same number of frames of Icsn Icvijlh. I have ki-pt bees from 

 a " bread and butter" standpufnt in Wisconsin, Iowa, Col- 

 orado and California, and have found the hive from which I 

 never expect to change. Climates and localities do not affect 

 its utility. It is the crosswise Langstroth of lO frames, or 

 2,020 cubic inches. The 8-frame Langstrotli contains 2, U)0, 

 and my old SJ-frame Gallup hive 1.980 cubic inches. The 8- 

 frauie Langstroth is large ei.ongh. but the shape is very bad. 

 Since using ten 1 y >tj-inch frames to the liive fur three seasons, 

 I believe that the colonies become as strong as with the \~% 

 frame. If it was calculated to have winter stores in the endt, 

 of the long frames, or in the side combs, I should want at 

 least 12 of tliem. 



I have arrived at the 2,000 cubic inches capacity of the 

 brood-chamber, from two starting points in the past \'i year'', 

 by cutting down and trimmina off the useless em uuibrauces. 



For winter, or for an abundance of stores at any emer- 

 gency, a half-depth story remains upon the hives, and the 

 honey is nearly all kept in it. Bees readily enter and replen- 

 ish a receptacle from which tliey are ai-custompd to obtaining 

 their daily rations. With this super there it is always ready 

 to catch a small run of surplus, and enables the surplus re- 

 ceptacles to be placed very near to the brood. The briiod- 

 chamber is 14 Jf inches square by 145f Inches deep, forming 

 an almost perfect cube. Florence, Calif. 



A Plea for Extending the Honey-Resources. 



BY J. A. GOLDEN. 



The terrible drouth we have had in this locality has com- 

 pletely blasted all hopes for any surplus, unless a fall flow 

 comes, of which we have but little hopes from present indica- 

 tions. 



The basswood was so heavy with bloom that It seemed the 

 limbs would break from the trees, and for three days I never 



*aw so many bees work on them before at one time, but the 

 drouth was too much for them, and the bloom was of but 

 short duration. 



The white clover was so badly dried up that scarcely a 

 bloom could be seen even along the water-courses. The tulip, 

 or poplar, yielded fairly well, but was soon dried np. The 

 sumac would have been all that could be desired, conid we 

 have had one or two good showers during its bloom, but like- 

 wise it had to follow In the same line, and unless we have 

 otiier sources from which bees can procure nectar throughont 

 this location, bee-keepers will have to look for other fields, or 

 abandon the bee-business. 



It seems that the farmers in this southeastern part of 

 Ohio have had but little desire to sow Alsike, crimson or alfalfa 

 clovers. Having read Frank Coverdale's letter on Alsike 

 clover, published in the bee-papers some time ago, I had it 

 republished in our county paper, with my own remarks, 

 thinking to induce some of our farmers to make trial experi- 

 ments, from which several farmers became anxious to sow the 

 Alsike, but withheld on account of the drouth. Wishing to 

 know more about the cultivating of Alsike clovor than Mr. 

 Coverdale gave in his article, I wrote him for full particulars 

 for publication, to which he kindly responded, and I had It 

 published, and if next year should be favorable for seed sow- 

 ing, there will be quite a little sown in this section, as I be- 

 lieve every farmer that got a copy of the Coverdale article 

 has preserved it, so far as I have inquired, and if bee-keepers 

 ill localities where the honey-sources are fast disappearing, 

 don't make some effort to encourage and induce the farmers 

 to grow honey-producing plants or grasses, the profits from 

 honey in such localities will be small. 



W.onld it not be wisdom for bee-keepers to have more 

 knowledge like Mr. Coverdale gave on Alsike clover, as a 

 profitable investment, spread upon our county papers from 

 time to time? Thus hundreds of farmers would be encour- 

 aged to raise the new grasses to their well deserved profit, as 

 well as procuring a bountiful supply of the most healthful 

 sweets that God has deigned to bestow upon man. 



Then, beekeepers, let us not staud idly by and see the 

 bee-industry die for the want of honey sources, but step to the 

 rescue, even to purchasing the seed, if need be, and thus as- 

 sist to our own good. This is not only right, but our duty as 

 well. Tnere are hundreds of farmers who, if presented with 

 a few pounds of seed, would gladly accept it, aud give the 

 matter of its production their most careful attention, and soon 

 the waste-places all over our country would bloom for onr 

 bees to revel in, and make glad many a bee-keeper's hear*. 



Keinersville, Ohio, July 29. 



Honey- Production Around the City of Pklla- 

 delphia, Pa. 



Head before the Philadelphia Bee-Keepers' A»sociaiio» 

 BY F. HAHMAN, JR. 



I do not consider myself quite equal to the task of wrItlRg 

 on this subject, but I will give such data and figures about the 

 amount of honey produced in this section, as the facts Iu the 

 case appear to me from such observation as I have been able 

 to make. 



We all know that Philadelphia is not an especially good 

 honey market compared with other cities, this fact being 

 mainly due to the lack of enterprise shown by the bee-keepers 

 themselves. The honey handled by the wholesale dealers and 

 commission houses is all shipped to the city from a distance ; 

 while the honey produced in the vicinity of the city Is all sold 

 directly to the consumer by the producer. 



The amount of honey, both comb and extracted, produced 

 within a radius of 12 miles of Philadelphia is abont 22,500 

 pounds, in round numbers. This calculation Is based oa the 



