THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



237 



ouc in the center at each end, and then make 

 it so solid that it can be carried about, re- 

 versed, etc. By loosening the tops, the 

 frames can be tipped over, one after another, 

 the light coming in from ends and above, 

 the ends of the frames can be got at their 

 entire length, making their separation easy. 

 A stiff case knife is just the thing: wiih it 

 one or more frames may be slipped up, the 

 crack made for the purpose not being wide 

 enough for a bee to get in. If a number are 

 raised at once, the propolis holds them to- 

 gether nicely. The center ones can be moved 

 to the outside, or vice versa, as rapidly as 

 this is written. No hitch, or catch, no swell- 

 ing tight, no killing of bees, the sides 

 " stand up " when the frames are all re- 

 moved. My section holders are interchange- 

 able with the frames, of same width as sec- 

 tions, are held in place with bolts and side 

 pieces, like the frames, with sheets of per- 

 forated metal the size of frames. Perpen- 

 dicular division of the brood chamber is 

 easily accomplished when using this ar- 

 rangement. To regulate brood rearing, 

 sheets are slipped between the frames, con- 

 fining the queen to as few as desirable. A 

 sheet laid on top keeps her down, and when 

 frames of comb, or sections are placed above, 

 the bees are not disturbed. The frames 

 containing the queen are known in a few 

 days by the fresh eggs. Frames containing 

 sections can be put in the center of the 

 brood nest, or at the sides. The control of 

 the queen is absolute. Sections can be 

 started or finished at any time when honey 

 comes in. Any amount of room can be 

 given with sections. Extra swarming from 

 contraction or crowding is avoided. Other 

 advantages, such as queen rearing, uniting, 

 etc., will suggest themselves. The limits of 

 this article will not allow of my pointing 

 them out. It is simple, and cheap, but not 

 new, except perhaps in its present combi- 

 nation. 



I am figuring on a house apiary next year, 

 8xi)}'2 wide, Gx8 high, can be built at less cost 

 per colony than a larger size, and contains 

 a> many entrances on a side as. can be dis- 

 tinctly marked. It gives room for manipu- 

 lation, extracting, etc, and some storage 

 room. I shall tile drain and fill six inches 

 with earth for floor, to avoid jarring bees, 

 and shall ventilate and light from all sides. 

 The building will be balloon frame, barn 

 sided, lined with waterproof (rosinized) 

 paper, flat roof finished with roofing paper, 



made of good material, painted, etc. Com- 

 plete it will cost about !f;20, and will hold 

 thirty-six colonies, hives for which, att'ording 

 the same protection, would cost ij^.TO. There 

 will be no outside cases, shade boards, 

 covers, etc., to handle, and all needed arti- 

 cles will be in easy reach, and there will be 

 much less cost for repairs. It certainly will 

 enable me to do the work quicker, easier, 

 and with more pleasure. Walls packed with 

 sawdust are not necessary, if not a disad- 

 vantage. They hold dampness, do not let in 

 enough heat for evaporation, curing, etc. 

 But few days are too hot in the shade for 

 bees. If thin outside cases are the thing for 

 single stands, why not for more? For win- 

 ter and spring they will be packed with cush- 

 ions. It certainly will cheapen the cost of 

 production. 



Berlin, Mo., Sept. 9, 1891. 



House Apiaries Must be Close and Warm in 

 Winter. 



J. p. MOOBE. 



'^jp THINK Mr. Hains has too many holes 

 m/ in his scimmer. With all those bee es- 

 capes and screen doors open all winter 

 he might as well have his bees in a barn. 

 Of course they are better ofii out of doors 

 without protection than in a barn, for out of 

 doors they will get the benefit of the sun. A 

 building for bees in this climate should be 

 thoroughly packed on all sides so as to shut 

 out all cold as much as possible, and it must 

 not be too large for the number of colonies 

 it contains — not over thirty cubic feet to the 

 colony. There should be no bees on the 

 north side in winter. If loosely built, with 

 wind blowing through, it is a bee shed and 

 not a house apiary. 

 BiNGHAMTON, N. Y., Sept. 4, 1891. 



House Apiaries and Bee Escapes. 



C. E. BOYEE. 



!!HIS is the subject I have wished to see 

 discussed. My idea for the past three 

 years has been that a warm house 

 apiary would be the most practical place for 

 wintering bees here in the North. A fire 

 could be kept in the building in cold and 

 damp weather, thus preventing moisture in 

 the hives. No paint would be needed on the 

 hives, which, according to the experience of 



