HIVES. 21 



JONEs' PATENT. 



Jones' dividing hive was probably suggested by this 

 instinctive principle of the bee, viz. : when a stock by 

 any accident loses its queen, and the combs contain 

 eggs or very young larvae, they will rear another. 

 Now if a hive is constructed so as to divide the brood- 

 combs, it would seem quite certain that the half with- 

 out a queen, would raise one ; and we could multiply 

 our stocks without swarms, the trouble of hiving, and 

 risk of their going to the woods, &c. 



AN EXPEKIMBNT. 



Several years ago, I thought I had obtained a prin- 

 ciple that would revolutionize the whole system of 

 bee management. In 1840 I constructed such hives, 

 and put in the bees to test by actual experiment, the 

 utility of what seemed so very plausible in theory. 

 It would appear that this principle suggested the same 

 idea to Mr. Jones ; perhaps with this difference : I 

 think he did not wait to test the plan thoroughly, be- 

 fore obtaining his patent in '42. One vender of rights 

 asserted that 63 stocks were made from one in three 

 years ; but somehow a great many that obtained the 

 rights, failed in their expectations. From my ex- 

 periments, I think I could guess at some of the rea- 

 sons. 



Mr. A. — "Well, what are the reasons? give us 

 your experience, if you please,' I am interested ; I had 

 the right for such a hive, and had a lot made to order, 

 that cost more money in the end than I shall ever pay 

 again for anything about bees." 



