1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



61 



and moisture." Whether this objection is as ex- 

 tensive as apprehended, is yet to be proved. I 

 know that the little niches where the straws lie to- 

 gether, are filled with it, but whether the smooth 

 rounded surface of the straw is sufficiently coated 

 to prevent the al)sorption of moisture, is not de- 

 termined. But should this be the case, and the 

 objection remain in full force, it is so easily obvi- 

 ated that it amounts to next to nothintj. To re- 

 move it, we have only to take out the combs — they 

 are movable — and put them into some other hive 

 for a short time, and apply boiling water. Or, , 

 suppose — as the advantages of straw are claimed 

 mostly for winter and spring — that at the begin- 

 ning of summer, and before any propolis is gath- 

 ered, we change the combs to a wood hive, and 

 again return them on the approach of cold wea- 

 ther. The top being of straAV, is unsuitable for 

 the surplus honey boxes, and of necessity is taken 

 off when they are used. This will be in proper 

 condition Avhenever put on in cold weather. 



The only advantages that ^Mr. B. can see in a 

 straw hive, are its dome-like shape, and that it 

 cannot be easily robl)ed of its stores. The conical 

 shape allows the moisture, as it "condenses at the 

 top, to run down the sides of the hive, instead of 

 dropping down among the bees and comb." If its 

 superiority was here, it would seem that when we 

 opened the holes in the top of a wood hive, and let 

 the moisture ascend into the chamber, condense, 

 and pass out, it would be as effectually out of the 

 way of the bees, as in running down the sides of a 

 conical shaped straw hive. If keeping the mois- 

 ture from the bees and comb was all, we should 

 have the same thrift as with the straw liive. But 

 it is not here. 



That bees swarm ten days earlier in straw hives, 

 "is not confirmed by many who have the straw 

 hive side by side with wood, when no boxes are 

 used for surplus." Here appears to be an acknowl- 

 edgment that they do swarm earlier than some 

 others. Now what is the cause ? lie says no 

 boxes are used for surplus. Whether it is the 

 room that the boxes afford, on taking the honey, 

 we are left to infer. If he means the room, I 

 woidd say that not one-half of the stocks go to 

 work in the boxes before swarming. If the honey 

 taken away, not one in a hundred is robbed before 

 that time. Can it be shown by experience, or any 

 com"se of reasoning, that when the hive is full, and 

 the bees clustered outside doing nothing for want 

 of room, that an extra box filled, and even removed 

 at such a time, will make any perceptible differ- 

 ence in the issue of the swarm ? If there should be 

 a difference, it would be likely to be in favor of 

 the earlier swarm. In good seasons, it is often the 

 case that too many of the brood combs are stored 

 with honey, instead of being filled with brood, 

 thereby retai'ding the increase of bees, and conse- 

 quently making the swarm later. 



"Mr. Quinby says that the best material for a 

 hive is straw, and that he has clearly shown it." 

 I Avould like to qualify this, by saying available 

 material. Perhaps there are many other materi- 

 als better, if we could only afford them. On this 

 point, I would quote a little further from Lang- 

 sti'oth. "The lighter and more spongy the wood, 

 the poorer will be its power of conducting heat, 

 and the warmer the hive in winter, and the cooler 

 in summer." "A serious disadvantage attending all 

 kinds of wooden hives, is the ease with which they 



conduct heat, causing them to become cold and 

 damp in winter, and, if exposed to the sun, so hot 

 in summer as often to melt the combs." From 

 these remarks, I can easily imagine that Mr. L. 

 would have recommended straw, if any shape 

 "adapted to improved bee-culture" had been sug- 

 gested. 



Mr. B. offers his last argument thus : "I am by 

 no means sure that there is any real advantage in 

 a straw hive. Certainly not. if the form is to be 

 changed." I would say, certainly not, unless the 

 form is changed {vom the old dome to one adapted 

 to improved bee-culture — the surplus boxes, and 

 movable combs. 



Mr. B. concludes Avith the following compli- 

 ment : "It is Avith some reluctance that I differ 

 with Mr. Quinby. My first ideas of bee-keeping 

 were derived from him, and I might still have re- 

 garded him as undoubted authority, had not acci- 

 dent thrown in my way the Langstroth hive, by 

 wliich I learned more in one season, than I should 

 have found out in a life-time, by using the twelve 

 by fourteen box liive. As it is, I trust Mr. Quin- 

 by Avill not blame me, if I am not tickled with liis 

 straws." By this it seems that my authority might 

 have yet been "undoubted," had it not been for 

 that Langstroth hive by which he learned so much 

 in one season. Now, without pretending to be in- 

 fallible, I would like Mr. B. to tell us wherein he 

 has proved my authority fallacious ? Has he not, 

 on the contrary, with the help of these movable 

 combs, verified many points that Avould tend to 

 establish it ? What he has discovered really new, 

 if he would make it public, I would be one of 

 many to heartily thank him for. These things I 

 have a right to ask. As for blaming him for not 

 being "tickled," I am not in the least disposed 

 that way. If he chooses not to use the better hive, 

 the consequence will be with him, not me. I shall 

 not gain or lose one cent, if he does, or does not 

 use it. I am not the interested patent vender that 

 will fail to make a V, if he fails to be persuaded. 

 Perhaps he will feel less prejudice towards this 

 hive, when he understands that it is still claimed 

 as the Langstroth hive. M. QuiNBY. 



St. Joknsvillc, N. Y., Dec, 1861. 



Fvr t/te New England Farmer. 

 CULTURE OF THE KOHL KABI. 



Mr. Editor : — My boys, the past season, 

 sowed a few seeds of kohl rabi in a bed, and trans- 

 planted them in drill, about the first of August. 

 The weather was very dry, and the plants had a 

 hard struggle for life, for a number of weeks. As 

 soon as we had rains they revived, and when gath- 

 ered, the middle of November, yielded near four 

 times the quantity, on the same surface, as carrots 

 along side of them. I have not any experience 

 with this root. The yield is satisfactory, but I 

 think they will require more careful preparation or 

 cutting up, before feeding, than other roots, as 

 they appear to be very hard. If, as is alleged by 

 those who have fed them to milch cows, they im- 

 part no flavor to the milk, as turnips and cabbages 

 do, I shall regard the kohl rabi as an important 

 acquisition to our farm crops. Brother farmers, 

 send to the New England Farmer your experience 

 in the culture and use of this root. o. K. 



Rochester, Mass., 1861. 



