Beekeeping as an Occupation 



11 



properly call typically American (Fig. 20) is a simple box, 

 with freely movable but accurately spaced frames, capable 

 of any amount of expan- 

 sion. It is a most efficient 

 tool for the beekeeper and 

 as fine a home for the bees 

 as any hive ever made. It 

 is readily moved, easily 

 packed for the winter and 

 these and other advantages 

 come chiefly from the se- 

 vere simpHcity which is de- 

 manded by business bee- 

 keepers. The American 

 beekeeper has, therefore, no 

 reason to envy his co- 

 workers abroad their elab- 

 orate and often attractive 

 hives. 



This comparison of equip- 

 ment serves to make clear 

 why beekeeping as a profitable business is possible in the 

 United States and, in turn, the simplicity of the hive is 

 doubtless due to the demands of practical men. The origi- 

 nal Langstroth hive 

 was much more 

 elaborate than our 

 present hives and, 

 with the advance 

 of the industry, all 

 the superfluous 

 parts of the hive 

 have been removed 

 one by one. The 

 present hive, there- 

 fore, typifies American apiculture of the present day. 

 There are still some hives used in the United States which 



Fig. 12. — C.D.B. hive of Ireland. 



Fig. 13. — Frame of C.D.B. hive. 



