44 
THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
To practice either of these systems to the 
greatest advantage, fertilised young queens 
should he introduced to the parent colonies 
immediately after swarming, and shortly 
afterwards surplus cases given. 
By these plans, whether increase is desired 
or not, the natural instinct of the bees is 
gratified, and the swarming energy is utilised ; 
a far more satisfactory practice, to otir ideas, 
than the usual artificial system of “making 
two out of three, &c.,” recommended in our 
English apiaries. 
Lose no time in completing all possible 
preparations for the coming season. 
HIVES AND STANDARD FRAMES. 
British Bee Journal , Jan. 1887. 
In our last" Hints” we confessed to a longing 
for a larger frame, which might he worked in 
in connection with the present Standard, and 
expressed an opinion that such a frame might 
be successfully introduced by private enter- 
prise. We are pleased to learn that Mr. Sim- 
mins is of the same opinion, and that for 
three years his brain has been at work on the 
subject, resulting in the production of a hive 
for which he is now obtaining a patent. By 
the courtesy of the inventor we have been 
favored with a sight of the drawings, and 
a full description of the hive. To this 
hive Mr. Simmins referred in his letter ( .V o. 
700) and stated that if there appeared a desire 
for a larger frame, he might at some future 
date describe the hive he used, in which could 
he worked advantageously a 14 x 14 frame, 
together with the present Standard. Without 
going into a full description of the hive, which, 
we hope, together with the drawings, may 
shortly appear in the Journal, we may say 
that the distinctive features of the hive consist 
of four novelties, which are to be more particu- 
larly by patent, viz.: — (1). A key arrange- 
ment for holding shallow frames and skeleton 
section holders in place for inversion, when 
desired (2). Folding skeleton section frames, 
which can be used either with or without a 
rack, in various parts of the hive. (3). A 
pliable adapting board, and (4) a weather 
rabl >et for protecting the joints of the hive. 
Besides these, there are other features en- 
tirely new to us, such as metal rests let into 
saw cuts on floor board : a sunk floor-hoard 
forming a permanent feeder ; as hive en- 
trances, small circular holes ; the plan of 
suspending the 14-mch frames, which are 
partly close-ended ; bee-space provided at top 
of frames instead of bottom ; an ing'enious 
and sinple plan of enlarging or diminishing 
the bee-space ; the shallow or super-frames 
(12 x 6) standing on end close up to the 
larger ones, &c. The hive itself, when com- 
plete with roof, forms a most picturesque 
object, and its appearance is thoroughly 
English, sound, and substantial, and it is 
clearly impervious to weather. 
Taken as a whole it is simplicity itself, not- 
withstanding its various parts — all of which 
can be worked on the invertible system— 
although Mr. Simmins is not an advocate of 
the plan — and we cannot but augur a success- 
ful future for a hive which unites in itself so 
many good points, and which can be worked 
with tlie greatest ease, both with the Standard 
and larger frames. 
SIMPLICITY IN FEEDING!, 
British Bee Journal, Jan. 13, 1887. 
(701). — At onetime I looked upon the work 
of feeding in large apiaries as one of the 
greatest annoyances, and the necessary pre- 
paration a waste of valuable time. Syrup had 
to be made over a stove before it was thought 
possible that it coirld he appropriated by the 
bees. I was satisfied that all this labor could 
be avoided, and before establishing out- 
apiaries I determined, if possible, that it 
should he done. The result of careful experi- 
ments was the present system known as dry- 
sugar feeding, by means of dummies filled and 
arrauged at the side of the brood nest. Though 
the term applied to the new process was not 
exactly correct, as the sugar used (Porto- 
Rico) is moist and soft, it is thus distinguished 
from syrup feeding, and appears appropriate. 
Though invaluable for stimulative purposes, 
and in some cases to complete storage, at 
times it was still necessary to give syrup, 
when desirable, to feed rapidly, hut this diffi- 
culty has been overcome by my self-acting 
syrup feeders. There was still, however, one 
other point to he overcome. 
Many stoeks are either neglected by their 
owner, or happen to run short of food before 
it is possible to feed iu the ordinary way. 
Hence the use of “ candy” during winter, than 
which there is no more troublesome nor ex- 
pensive food to make ; expensive because of 
the great waste of time taken in its manu- 
facture.when one might he profitably employed 
at something far more remunerative. 
It is pretty well understood by practical 
beekeepers that the only suitable candy is 
that which always presents a moist surface to 
the bees, without wasting too freely, great 
care being required to get it just right, as, if 
too dry, the bees will not make much use of it 
until they can obtain water ; udiile, if too soft 
the whole will run away in waste, making 
everything sticky, the poor bees included, and 
thus doing more harm than good. 
When I say that I have struck the “ happy 
medium,” and no more cooking is required, 
even for winter feeding, or for supplementing 
the stores of those running short before spring 
opens, the importance of the following plan of 
giving uncooked sugar without the expense of 
a feeder will be acknowledged. Porto-Bico 
sugar is of exactly the right condition to take 
the place of candy, if only properly applied. 
