MOVABLE-FEAME HIVES. 146 



"The question of the mobility of the ceiling was discussed at 

 length at the Bee-keepers' Meeting held in Milan, Italy, in 

 September 1885. Mr. Cowan and I were unable to conceal from the 

 Italian bee-keepers our wonder that it was not solved for them, 

 as it has been, for a long time, in the countries of large produc- 

 tion. 



" We can predict, and without any fear of mistake, that the 

 principles on which the Langstroth hive is based will be ad- 

 mitted sooner or later by the most progressive bee-keepers of 

 the world."— (Ed. Bertrand.) 



294. The introduction of the Langstroth hive in Italy, 

 and especially in Germany, has been hindered, so far, by 

 the premature adoption of a standard frame, which " shuts 

 the door to progress." — (Ed. Bertrand.) 



295. The success of American bee-culture, in the last 

 twenty years, was first attributed, by European bee-keepers, 

 to the honey-producing power of the country ; but the most 

 intelligent Apiarists, who have tried the American methods, 

 with the Langstroth hive, now recognize that success is 

 principally due to the manipulations that it permits. 



296. Nay, if the student will but refer to the former re- 

 vision of this very book (1859), the first words of it will 

 show him the progress accomplished since then : 



"Practical bee-keeping in this country is in a very de- 

 pressed condition, being entirely neglected by the mass of 

 those most favorably situated for its pursuit. Notwithstand- 

 ing the numerous hives which have been inttoduced, the 

 ravages of the bee-moth have increased, and success is becom- 

 ing more and more precarious. While multitudes have 

 abandoned the pursuit in disgust, many even of the most 

 experienced are beginning to suspect that all the so-called 

 ' Improved Hives ' are delusions or impostures ; and that 

 they must return to the simple box or hollow log, and ' take 

 up ' their bees with sulphur in the old-fashioned way." 



297. Mr. Gravenhorst, also a German, invented a mov- 

 able-frame hive made of straw. "We give a cut of his hive 



10 



