THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
29 
late in the comb, even when sealed over ; but 
this seldom happens. Feeding hack extracted 
honey to be stored in sections 1 have never tried, 
but it is not recommended by the best 
authorities on the subject, except occasionally, 
to complete nearly filled sections. Anyone 
who tries it with the expectation of securing 
the results achieved by the author of 
“ Blessed Bees ” will probably be “ a sadder 
and a wiser man ” afterwards. I regard the 
discovery of comb foundation as one of the 
most important in modern beekeeping, and I 
believe it will soon be more widely used than 
at present. As a general rule I never put a 
frame into a hive unless completely filled with 
foundation. In a good season foundation is 
paid for twice over in the extra amount of 
honey which may be extracted from a swarm 
during the first fortnight; and in a season 
like the present, if hived on full sheets, they 
will fill their hives with perfect worker combs 
and rear a large amount of brood, when, if 
hived on starters only, they would, in our dis- 
trict at least, require feeding liberally to pre- 
vent starvation, and they would exhibit a 
strong tendency to desert their hive. Losses 
round Mount Barker have been very heavy 
this spring from the latter cause with those 
keeping bees on the old system, as the new 
Swarms have been unable to gather enough 
to build combs and supply themselves with 
food. Foundation for brood combs should be 
five or six square feet to the pound; if the 
frames are wired there is no advantage in 
having it thicker. For section boxes the wax 
should be of the finest quality, and about nine 
or ten square feet to the pound. It has been 
stated that during a rush of honey the bees 
do not thin down the base of the cells, but 
merely build on to the walls ; but this I 
believe to be a mistake. I have examined 
combs which have had a considerable quantity 
of honey stored in them within twenty-four 
hours of the foundation being placed in the 
hive, and have always found that the first 
thing the bees do is to reduce the base of the 
cell to the thickness of natural comb. This 
may easily be observed if a sheet of founda- 
tion, part of which is still unworked, be held 
up to the light. Another great advantage of 
using full sheets of foundation is that the 
raising of drones is very much limited, and 
may, in some instances, be almost entirely 
prevented; thou- h, should a stock determine 
to have drones, they will rear them in worker 
cells rather than be denied. I think the 
amount of honey lost by having an unlimited 
number of drones is generally under estimated. 
They not only consume it themselves, but 
they occupy space and time which might 
otherwise be devoted to worker brood. As to 
the respective merits of the Ligurian and 
black bees I shall not say much, as I believe 
they are to form the subject for discussion at a 
future meeting. The Ligurians certainly work 
better, especially in a poor season; while for 
cotnbhouey that stored by the blacks issuperior 
both in appearance and keeping qualities. In 
conclusion I would advise all, but especially 
those who intend to produce honey 7 for market, 
to put quality before quantity, as the suresi 
way of securing for honey its rightful place as 
a delicious and health-giving article of diet, 
and of removing the delusion under which even 
our legislators appear to be labouring, that it 
is merely a luxury. 
DISCUSSION. 
Several members asked questions respecting 
observations made in the paper, which were 
answered and explained by Mr. Coleman. In 
respect to the best material for covering the 
tops of the frames, some members thought 
“American cloth” retained the moisture too 
much in winter, and the general opinion 
seemed to be that two or three thicknesses of 
unbleached calico or of duck was the best, 
especially in low-lying and cold localities. 
Sugar-mat was considered to be a good 
material for warm weather. In regard to 
feeding when there is a dearth of honey, a 
question was raised as to which feeder and 
kind of feeder was best. It was generally 
thought that the “ Simplicity ” was best, but 
it should have some hot wax poured through 
it to make it syrup-proof. Several contriv- 
ances were named, such as mustard tins per- 
f n ated, and reversed when filled ; also sardine 
tins, “bamboo” troughs, inverted glass bottles, 
&c. The best feeding material was thought 
to be a syrup made of equal parts of brewers’ 
crystals and water. Mr. A. E. Bonney 
recommended beekeepers to save as many 
frames as possible of Cape Marigold (“ Crypt"- 
semma calendulacea”) honey, and use for 
feeding, as it was not very palatable In- 
human beings but very useful for bees and for 
strengthening the colonies. The discussion 
was continued for a considerable time after 
the chair was vacated, and the meeting 
separated at a late hour. 
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS. 
Beekeeping, 
By W. Abram, Manager of the Italian 
Bee Company, Parramatta, N.S.W. 
( Continued .) 
Part III. — the derlepsch and the 
LAN GST ROTH HIVE. 
Having described the Berlepsch Hive, I 
shall now proceed to compare it with the 
Langstroth, as it, or hives of similar construc- 
tion, are in most general use in America and 
