THOUSAND ANSWERS 117 



A. The number of colonies is rather small to deduce a gen- 

 eral rule; but even if you had a larger number it is not a dead 

 open-and-shut affair that the smaller hives are better winterers. 

 As to that dead colony in the 10-frame hive, it's about certain 

 that the size of the hive cuts no figure. They had no normal 

 laying queen and had not had one for weeks, for the dead bees 

 were few, and part of them were drones. We have left, then, the 

 four 8-frame hives, and the two. 10-frame, and you are evidently of 

 the opinion that the bees in the latter two were in too poor 

 condition to fly, while the bees in the smaller hives flew well. 

 Well, as there were only two of them, it might just happen that 

 those two were poorer than the others. But did it never occur to 

 you that it might be that those two colonies did not fly because 

 . they were in too good condition to fly? That would be my guess. 

 December 28 the bees had not been confined very long, and these 

 two colonies were doing so well that they did not yet feel the 

 need of a flight. At any rate, wait until spring, and then you can 

 tell with more certainty which has done the better. 



Q. Will bees go into old hives as well as into new ones when 

 they have become damp inside several times, but have never been 

 used before? 



A. Yes, if the hives are sweet and clean. 



Q. For a beginner, which would you recommend, the 8-frame 

 Jumbo brood-chamber, or the 10-frame Langstroth? 

 A. The 10-frame Langstroth. 



Q. The cuts showing how to nail dovetailed hives, nail only 

 every other dovetail. Do you think that is the best way, or should 

 every one be nailed? 



A. At top and bottom nail at least two consecutive dovetails ; 

 it's not so important about the central ones. I have had pretty 

 good success by driving a nail vertically at top, and one at bottom. 



Q. Which hive do you recommend for a beginner, the Tri- 

 State, Dovetailed, or Leahy telescope? Also which number of 

 frame, 8 or 10? (I am located in northeast Missouri.) 



A. These all have the regular Langstroth frame, 175^x9^^, the 

 size to be recommended, and aside from this the particular form 

 of hive does not matter greatly. The dovetailed has the advan- 

 tage that it is the one most generally in use. As to the number 

 of frames, the 10-frame is decidely better. 



Q. Is it not easier to cut out queen-cells in the Danzenbaker 

 hive than in the Langstroth? I am pretty badly smitten on the 



