THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW, 



•75 



or uearly all, who have tried the oil cloth 

 and honey-board simultaneously, have dis- 

 carded the latter forever, except in some 

 cases of comb honey production, when a 

 skeli'foH honey-board is used between the 

 stories." We were very much surprised, in- 

 deed, to think that so well-informed bee- 

 keepers as the Dadants should say that the 

 honey-board was being discarded ; and we 

 shall be very glad to know that they had ref- 

 erence to the honey-board of olden times, 

 and not to the modern, slatted, break-joint 

 invention of Mr. Heddou's. 



And now Dr., for the pleasure of an ar- 

 gument with you about removing quilts and 

 honey-boards. When the frames and (luilt 

 are new, the latter fits down quite nicely 

 and smoothly : but the bees put propolis at 

 all accessible points of contact. When the 

 quilt is removed, it is seldom replaced 

 in iwactlij the same position. The small 

 attachments of propolis -adhering to the 

 quilt rest upon the tops of the frames. 

 This raises the quilt a little above the 

 frames, and the bees are not slow in im- 

 proving tlie opportunity for plugging in still 

 more propolis. The next time the quilt is 

 removed and replaced, the opportunities for 

 propolising are increased. The (luilt finally 

 becomes stiffened with its coating of pro- 

 polis, and refuses to fit down into the hol- 

 lows and depressions between the little knobs 

 and mounds of propolis and wax, and the 

 opportunities for using propolis are all that 

 a reasonable bee could ask. Now we can't 

 take hold of the quilt and break these at- 

 tachments all at once : the quilt lacks the 

 rigidity necessary for this operation, hence 

 it must be peeled off; and, as we said in a 

 former issue, every snap, and sputter, and 

 tear of the propolis, as it gives way, jars and 

 irritates the bees. A honey-board does not 

 rest upon the frames, but is held bee-space 

 above them, hence no propolis is ever 

 placed between the frames and the honey- 

 board. The connections between the frames 

 and honey-board are always of comli, which 

 can be broken without a jar. As we have 

 before explained, there is only one jar in re- 

 moving a honey-board, ( and that is not of 

 such an irritating nature as the tearing loose 

 of a quilt) and that is in loosening the 

 honey-board from the edge of the top of the 

 hive. We accomplish tliis by inserting the 

 blade of a pocket knife between the hive 

 and honey-board, and giving the knife a 

 slight twist. After the board is thus loosen- 



ed, all that is needed to effect a separation is 

 a slight twisting movement, similar to that 

 made in unscrewing the cover to a fruit jar, 

 which breaks all the comb attachments at 

 once, without a particle of jar. When the 

 honey-board has been removed, we lay it, 

 upside down, in front of the hive, until the 

 manipulations are over, when we pick up the 

 board and strike one end forcibly upon the 

 ground in front of the hive to dislodge the 

 adhering bees. The bees that are sipping 

 honey from the broken brace-combs upon 

 the tops of the frames are driven down with 

 a few sharp puffs of smoke, and the honey- 

 board put back histinifly. We are sorry that 

 the Dr. cannot manipulate a honey-board so 

 easily and quickly as he can a quilt, for we 

 honestly believe that the latter is " going, 

 going, going." 



Management of Bees for Profit, and 

 Prevention of Increase. 



E. A. MOBGAN. 



^REVENTIMG increase in the number 

 of colonies does not mean preventing 

 increase in the number of bees, as this 

 would be exactly the opposite of what 

 we do to gain the best results. 



As early as 1882, 1 realized that all my pro- 

 fits were going into increase of colonies, and 

 I longed for a plan whereby I could turn 

 swarms into honey. I purchased non-swarm- 

 ing queens, gave room, cut out queen cells, 

 etc., but when the honey fiow began, away 

 went the honey crop into extra swarms and 

 very little surplus. 



In 1883 I had KMI strong colonies, and only 

 20 spare hives, and I decided to make these 

 hold my increase. I succeeded in doing this, 

 to my entire satisfaction, and my crop of 

 white honey that season averaged 111' lbs. 

 per colony. 



Now for the plan, the object of which is to 

 prevent swarming in a measure, but more 

 especially to avoid increase in the number of 

 colonies, which is always attended by a loss 

 of surplus honey and an expense for new 

 hives, combs, etc. 



I use the ten frame L. hive, which is broad 

 and shallow, and I find it the best all things 

 considered. I strive to keep hardy prolific 

 queens; such as can fill eight to ten L. frames 

 with brood, and keep them so. This hive 

 gives room for the most prolific ([ueen, which, 

 if crowded in a small hive, is too willing to 

 swarm out, while it can be contracted, if so 

 desired, by a division board. At the begin- 

 ning of the honey season all hives should be 

 full to overflowing with bees. Many inquir- 

 ies are heard, asking, how shall I get my 

 bees to go into tlie sections? My plan is to 

 have the hive so full of bees that they go into 

 the sections for room. With a colony in this 

 condition when wiiite clover opens, the combs 

 will very soon begin to whiten along the top 



