To avoid a semblance of injustice we will say that j 
\)w frames we consider Langstroth frames, every one ; 
«»f them, and we believe he experimented with ’them j 
all, and many more besides, before settling down on | 
i he {Standard Langstroth ; but custom seems to have 
found it convenient to designate them as we have, by I 
the names of those who use or prefer them thus. We | 
keep only the Standard Langstroth on band made up, | 
as we think it best, all things considered. Were we to ; 
choose next we should select Adair, then American, ; 
then Quinby, and lastly Gallup. Were we to rear 
Queens largely we might ptel'er the latter to all others 
on account of the small frame. We should use for any | 
of these frames what we call the Simplicity hive, that j 
i- a plain box made without top or bottom, aud to give 
them the requisite strength to keep square and true, ; 
we should "halve in” the corners that they may be 
nailed from both ways. As the Quinby, Adair and 
Gallup frames are of the same depth, one width of j 
boards will answer for all, both sides and ends, and as j 
eight frames till a Quinby hive, the width is just right ; 
to take the Gallup frames crosswise, of which twelve , 
are used ; thus making the same hive answer for 
either, with the exception of making the rabbets in 
the ends for the former and in the sides for the latter. 
About ten frames of the Langstroth, Adair, or Ameri- 
can, are needed for a single story hive, and so we may j 
make them all of the same width, viz: 11 inches, i 
For facility in working we would always have the up- • 
per and lower stories precisely alike, and for the same 
reason we would also nave tops and bottoms exact ly 
alike, and these should be made with strips around 
them like the cover to a trunk to effectually prevent j 
warning; we use a simple hinge that hinges any one 
of them instantly on any hive, as may be required. 
For more precise directions for making these plain. | 
simple hives, see Gleanings for 1873. ’Tis optional 
whether common nailed frames be used in these hives, 
or those we make with metal corners, the latter are of | 
course more expensive, but when the Apiarist’s time 
is valuable we think they are a good investment, not 
only because they are never gummed fast, but also on j 
account of their superior lightness and strength, and 
as much less wood is used in their construction we ! 
have more square inches of comb surface for brood or j 
honey In the same hive. As quite expensive maehin- I 
erv is used in the construction of the metal corners we 
have had them patented, but the right is free to every i 
one to use them, we only reserve the right to manu- 
facture, which we presume will never inconvenience 
.Bee-Keepers, so long as we furnish them at the low | 
price of one cent each, or less in large quantities. 
Whatever form of Hive be used, soft, light, cloth 
quilts should always be used to cover the frames, ami, j 
indeed, with metal corners these are almost a necessi- 
ty, for a honey-board would be liable to be stuck to the 
frames sufficiently to raise them up when it is remov- 
ed. These quilts, to work well, should tit accurately, 
and if they are soft and light they may he pressed 
down on the Bees when they cover the frames without 
injury. 
Before dismissing Hives we must not omit to add 
that any one of these five frames may have a hive 
made wide enough to contain the full number needed 
in a single story, and Adair claims that a good Queen 
can use a hive ror his frame four feet Long and con- 
taining, if we allow 13 a inches to each frame, about 
thirty-two frames; this we believe he styles the "New 
Idea Hive.” While admitting some great advantages 
from this arrangement, such as not being obliged to 
lift off an upper story, being able at any time to re- 
move anv comb at pleasure, facility in extracting, for 
we can shake the bees off the combs directly oil those 
that have been emptied, etc.; yet we cannot agree 
that any greater amount of honey may be obtained by 
such ah arrangement until we have more positive ex- 
periments in the matter; nor can we think the a r rung- 
men t of spreading the combs horizontally sufficiently 
new or novel to be the basis of a Latent Hive. The 
disadvantages are that double the amount of bottom 
board anil cover are needed to enclose the same num- 
ber of combs, the hive is spread over more ground, is 
not as compact, and if housed in winter the whole ar- 
rangement must lie "lugged” in. All things consider- 
ed, we are not now prepared to decide that the form 
may not ultimately obtain, over the two-story hive. 
I" 'or box Honey we would use any of the hives men- 
tioned two-story, or we would make them double 
width and use two stories, thus enabling us to add 
boxes at the sides of the comb as well as on top. This 
arrangement is said to give enormous yields in some 
localities, but we have never been able! to secure any 
such results here. If bees art* furnished lilenty of 
room near the brood combs during a \ i> Id of iione\ w c j 
presume it makes little difference whether it be at the J 
side or above. We cannot think it possible for bees to J 
build the comb, and store, under any circuinstanoes* 
the quantity of honey thev would with empty comb 
furnished them. Where box honey is relied’ on, in 
most localities, disappointment has been so much the 
rule and success the exception, that 'tis a very preca- 
rious business indeed. \\ ith the Extractor and a set 
of surplus empty combs, the Bee-Keeper is almost sure 
of a crop, be the season ever so poor. 
llxt raetors. 
It would seem there has been more thoughtlessness 
in the construction of extractors, if possible, than in 
movable combs for hives, and nothing short of direct 
experiment seems to have any influence in convincing 
that revolving the can of the Extractor is a most in- 
tolerable error. To be brief: Have every part station- 
ary that it is not absolutely necessary to revolve : 
make the revolving frame just as light as it possibly 
can be and have the necessary strength, and in order 
to secure this lightness and avoid useless centrifugal 
force, all frames should go in the longest way up and 
down. The comb should stand when revolved, against 
a sheet of wire cloth firmly supported at about live 
inches from the center of shaft, and were the combs 
used the longest way horizontally we should be oblig- 
ed to use a very large can, and those portions most re- 
mote from the center would of course receive the 
highest speed, requiring a waste of labor, and endan- 
gering the throwing out of the unsealed brood before 
the honey was all out of the middle of the comb. Ex- 
tractors should be made all of metal for obvious rea- 
sons, and the center and gearing should be supported 
by a single arm, that we may have nearly the whole 
top of the can open to handle frames rapidly. The 
whole apparatus should not exceed twenty pounds in 
weight, and should be sufficiently compact to be plac- 
ed over the bung-hole of a barrel, that we may work 
uninterruptedly, without being obliged to stop to 
empty or strain honey in the height of the honey sea- 
son. Lastly, every drop of honey should run out of 
its own accord, and a large sized .molasses gate should 
be attached, that we may close it quickly, when a bar- 
rel is full. Notwithstanding the advantage of having 
an Extractor that will take any sized frame we have 
mentioned, we would have at least two sizes, for it 
would be too great a waste of time and strength for 
one possessing an Apiary of Langstroth hives, to work 
a machine with the superfluous metal necessary to 
contain a Quinby or American lYamo. A seventeen 
inch can will do Very well for all frames having a di- 
mension of 11 inches or less, and we should use a 
twenty inch can for the Quinby and American frames. 
’Tis true that for the American, Gallup, or Adair 
frames, we might have a shallower apparatus than for 
the others, yet as the expense is but little more in 
making, we have usually made them all of a depth of 
about 20 inches. For directions for making, see 
Gleanings tor Feb. 1873. 
In regard to Transferring, Artificial Swarming, Bob- 
bing, \\ intering, etc., we have little to add in addition 
to our remarks in our last year's Circular, more espec- 
ially as each subject has been frequently treated in 
Gleanings. 
We can ship promptly, by Freight, Express or Mail, 
(none mailable except those designated,) goods men- 
tioned in the following list. Hives, Extractors, etc., 
can be sent much cheaper by freight, but in this case 
they should Ik* ordered three or four weeks before 
needed, if the distance is considerable. During the 
months of April, May and June, orders may some- 
times be delayed several days, but our customers may 
rely upon receiving prompt notice at once on receipt 
of all remitpmccs. 
At, the prices given below, cash must accompany 
every order ; as the sending of goods C. O. I). entails 
an additional expense, and goods mail) times fail to 
be taken, we must be excused for refilling to send any 
that way. When hives or frames are ordered in quan- 
tities, the additional expense of boxing is such that 
we can make no better rates on large orders. Orders 
for frames or hives of dimensions different from those 
named, will also be liable to some additional delay, 
especially during the "Honey months.” 
P H ICE E I W T . 
Simplicity Hive, single story, without frames or 
bottom board, made for either Quinby, Langs- 
troth, Adair, American or Gallup frames, each.. $1.00 
Tile same, ready to nail, including nails, hinges, 
metal rabbets, etc 90 
The above furnishes a complete sample hive to work 
from, as the bottom is to be made precisely like the 
cover; two of them forms a two-story hive, and the 
extra cover then furnishes a bottom board. 
