544 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



why we are so particular; well, just put 

 a frame of foundation in a hive that is 

 not level, and then note the difference. 



Now is the time to prepare something 

 for the World's Fair, at Chicago. Every 

 State in the Union should do its level best 

 to be represented there, and show to the 

 world what can be done for the "little 

 busy bee," that improves every shining 

 hour. Commence now to prepare some- 

 thing fancy. 



While the Spring will be late in this 

 latitude, the indications are that a good 

 honey season is before us. Plenty of 

 snow in March, and some rain, has made 

 the ground so wet that an abundance of 

 early flowers are expected. White clover 

 will certainly afford a, good harvest this 

 year. 



Scarcely a single pound of comb-honey 

 is obtainable in our city at present — in 

 fact, there has been but little on the 

 market all Winter. My crop of this ar- 

 ticle was all sold early in the Winter, and 

 but little has been shipped in from other 

 places. 



Very little extracted-honey is used, ex- 

 cept what is sold by peddling from house 

 to house. Comb-honey is sold in 1-pound 

 sections, and extracted-honey is put up 

 in 1-quart fruit-jars, and a little in cans. 



Plattsmouth, Nebr., April 13, 1891. 



Comli-Hoiiey and Ont-Door Wintering, 



GEO. H. KIEKPATKICK. 



As many of the readers of the Bee 

 Journal are, perhaps, undecided as to 

 what hive, or what make of hive they 

 will use the coming season, a few words 

 on this subject may be of interest to 

 them. 



It is an undisputed fact, that most ap- 

 iculturists who are keeping bees for 

 profit, demand a cheap, simple, practical 

 hive. Shall this be a single-walled or a 

 chaff hive, and shall it contain 8 or 10 

 Langstroth frames, is a question not so 

 easily decided. 



If the single-walled will do and 10 

 frames are wanted, then the 10-frame 

 Langstroth hive is, perhaps, the right 

 hive. If only 8 frames are wanted, then 

 we need look no further than the dove- 

 tailed hive. 



Now, either of the above hives are 

 practical, but they must be protected, if 

 wintered out-doors, or, if in the cellar, 

 Spring protection is needed. It has been 

 suggested by Ernest R. Root, of Medina, 

 Ohio ; R. F. Holtermann, of Romney, 



Ont.; and others, that an outside case be 

 made for the purpose of protecting 

 single-walled hives In Winter, but some 

 predict that such cases will never come 

 into general use. 



Well, what about chaff hives ? I think 

 this heavy, expensive chaff hive, such as 

 has been on the market for years, with 

 heavily packed walls, requiring two men 

 to move one, on account of the great 

 weight and bulk, will never become pop- 

 ular with the majority of bee-keepers, 

 although, by many, bees are reported to 

 winter very well in them. But who will say 

 that they are good hives for comb-honey? 

 In my experience, I have found them 

 very poor. 



The thick, heavy walls retain the heat 

 of the colony, and when the mercury is 

 standing at from 85° to lOO'^ — which 

 is a very common 

 temperature during 

 a good honey-flow — 

 the bees are driven 

 from the hives to 

 prevent the destruc- 

 tion of the combs. 

 Why, it seems to me 

 that such thick walls 

 are worse than useless, as they prevent 

 a free ventilation of the hive in Summer, 

 and also prevent the warmth of the sun 

 from reaching the bees in early Spring. 

 And this warmth I consider quite an ad- 

 vantage, especially after brood-rearing 

 has commenced. 



Another objection to this heavy chaff 

 hive, is its double-bottom. By a thor- 

 ough test for a series of Winters, I have 

 proven to my own satisfaction, that a 

 double-bottom is useless ; for if the hive 

 rests as near the ground as it should, 

 the packing will become damp ; when If 

 a single %-inch board is used, the hive 

 bottom will remain dry, other conditions 

 being right. 



As I have now spoken of three differ- 

 ent hives, and mentioned a few points 

 which seem to me as not being altogether 

 practical, I will give a short description 

 of my 8-frame chaff hive : 



This hive I have used for four years, 

 and it has proven to be complete in every 

 respect, especially for comb-honey and 

 out-door wintering. It is arranged with 

 a 2-inch space around the brood-chamber, 

 which may be packed, or left unpacked 

 — I prefer It unpacked. This hive is a 

 very easy oncto handle, weighing less 

 than a two-story Simplicity, and it is ar- 

 ranged with handles on each end, which 

 are very convenient. (See cut above.) 



I make this hive to receive the dove- 

 tailed furniture, although it will receive 

 any of the standard surplus arrg^nge- 



