AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



543 



Uniformity Of Honey-Sections, 



DR. C. C. MILLEE. 



Your editorial advocating one size of 

 sections, rings out no uncertain sound. 

 I hope you may secure a full presenta- 

 tion of both sides, but in order to over- 

 come difficulties, it is well to look them 

 squarely in the face. So I veill make 

 mention of what occurs to me in the 

 way of difficulty or objection. 



Suppose the edict goes forth that a 

 certain section is to be considered stand- 

 ard, and anyone who varies from that 

 will be out of style. It may happen that 

 the section that I am using differs a 

 trifle from the standard, yet all my fix- 

 tures, hives, supers, etc., are arranged 

 with reference to that size, and it will be 

 difficult to get me to change them all for 

 no other advantage than to be in the 

 fashion. So large a number would be in 

 this predicament, that the adoption of a 

 standard would be no easy matter. 



One who has never tried it has no idea 

 of the trouble attending a change of 

 size. It is a very common thing, and a 

 very correct thing, to urge beginners to 

 avoid having more than one kind of hive 

 in the same apiary, and much the same 

 argument will hold against more than 

 one kind of section. For it is easily 

 seen that the man who has been using a 

 section of a certain size, will for some 

 time be likely to have some of that size 

 on hand after he changes to the stand- 

 ard. 



But are there not some hives that in 

 their nature demand a certain kind of 

 section, from which it is almost impos- 

 sible to change ? 



Some markets demand one thing and 

 some another. Now, ought you to ask 

 me, for the sake of uniformity, to make 

 a change that will take money out of my 

 pocket ? If a two-pound section sells 

 better than a one-pound — as we are told 

 it does in some markets — and the bee- 

 keeper feels convinced that he can get 

 more pounds of honey in the larger size, 

 it will be difficult to get that man to fall 

 into line. 



Again, would not the adoption of a 

 standard size largely bar the way against 

 future progress ? If, to-day, some one 

 finds out a shape or size of section mani- 

 festly superior to anything else in use, it 

 may be adopted by a number at once, 

 and gradually w^ork itself into the posi- 

 tion of greatest popularity. On the 

 other hand, if only one section were in 

 universal use, it would be almost impos- 

 sible to make any change. 



Bee-keepers are great for hobbies, and 

 pretty strong in their prejudices. Smith 

 is sure his section is better than Brown's, 

 and Brown is equally sure that Smith's 

 is inferior. If either one is adopted, is 

 it likely the other will change ? If that 

 be universally the case, what difference 

 will it make to adopt a standard ? Will 

 it be any more a standard than it is now, 

 except in name ? 



Now, I have suggested these objec- 

 tions, and others will no doubt arise — 

 how shall they be met ? 



Marengo, Ills., April 10, 1891. 



[The fact that the regular size can be 

 made and sold cheaper than odd sizes, 

 will very materially assist in bringing 

 about a uniformity in size. Nothing 

 teaches a lesson more impressively than 

 a financial argument, especially when 

 that is illustrated by an every-day, 

 practical experience. Odd sizes of sec- 

 tions cost the honey-producer one dollar 

 per thousand more than the regular sizes. 

 That money is simply thrown away. — 



Ed.] 



^1 « *■ 



Ajiciiltiiral Notes from Mmti 



J. M. YOUNG. 



Have you got your supplies in readi- 

 ness for the first honey harvest ? 



Bees have wintered well in this local- 

 ity. I have lost one colony out of my 

 entire number. 



Do you take a bee-periodical ? If not, 

 you should subscribe for one at once. A 

 good, progressive bee-keeper cannot get 

 along without one. 



Bees should be fed a little now, every 

 day they take a flight; if for nothing 

 else, it will encourage brood-rearing, and 

 keep the colony in a healthy condition, 

 and when the honey harvest comes, you 

 will have plenty of workers to bring in 

 the nectar. 



For several years I have used a thick 

 top-bar for my brood-frames, % of an 

 inch thick, and even at this thickness 

 my frames seldom ever sag — at least not 

 enough to amount to anything, but per- 

 haps the thick top-bar advertised so 

 much, will be better. I shall try some of 

 them this season. 



The hives in my apiary are about 8 

 feet apart, each way, and in rows. 

 Usually, I level up my hives perfectly, 

 every Spring. A novice will perhaps ask 



