X56 Transactions of the American Institute. 



and hive for two dollars. I believe it is the best, cheapest and 

 most convenient hive in use. From a wide range of observation 

 and experiments, it appears that if the inside of a bee hive is kept 

 at about the same temperature as the air it contains, no condensa- 

 tion takes place, and the hive and bees remain perfectly dry. The 

 old style straw hive is a good illustration of the fact, and its effect 

 m wintering bees freely sustains me in the belief that this hive will 

 winter bees even better than a straw hive, which in form and prin- 

 ciple it resembles. I hav^e used hives constructed on this principle 

 four years. I have opened them for experiments and the inspection 

 of friends. When mercury indicated ten degrees, and five hours 

 previous had been fourteen below zero, I have found the boards 

 above the bees dry, free from frost, and the bees nimble and on 

 the defensive. In the last German Apiarian Convention, Mr. 

 Tziertzoue, the greatest of German apiarians, said that while science 

 and invention had revolutionized bee keeping, no real advancement 

 had been made in wintering bees. " How to winter bees being the 

 great remaining unsolved problem in practical apiculture." My 

 experiments with the hive before you, the past winter, justify me in 

 the belief that this hive will meet the want above expressed — a 

 want which, if it can be met, will add millions of dollars to the 

 national wealth. Last January, when the mercury was at six 

 degrees below zero, a thermometer between the shavino-s and main 

 hive indicated thirty-four degrees above; that, too, with an open 

 entrance on each side, twenty-one inches long, or equal to a hole 

 four inches square. April 29, with the mercury at tweuty-livo 

 degrees, a thermometer, placed as before, stood fifty-nine degrees. 

 By this you will see it will require cold weather to produce frost 

 in this hive. On a pleasant day in October, when but few bees are 

 on the wing, all my hives containing young queens are opened, and 

 the tip of one wing on each queen is shortened about an eighth of 

 an inch with scissors, and returned to the hive. A few days later, 

 on a colder day, all my hives are turned over, and a careful exami- 

 nation of the bees and honey made. Those having average clusters 

 of bees and honey are considered worthy of wintering. Those 

 having small clusters of bees are treated to a little smoke, that their 

 music may be heard. If a wild, shrill cry is heard, and great con- 

 fusion possesses the hive, they are marked queenless. The next 

 small cluster is treated the same way, but instead of the wild cry 

 and confusion, a low, dull hum, and idle flapping of wings is heard, 

 and in a moment all is still. The latter has a queen, but too few 



