50 
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 
May. 
ths Extractor, we would advise the double 
Width hives. If you have two empty hives, 
make them into one of double width as ad- 
vised ou page 43; lift the combs of the colony 
into this ; keep building them out by inserting 
combs as before, and proceed in the same way 
with the rest, as they demand more room. If 
you have the Simplicity hives you can use the 
upper story as well as the lower, for they are 
precisely alike ; but with the ordinary two 
story hives 'tis more difficult ; however, if you 
have no money to spare for new hives, and 
plenty of time, it may be managed, but we fear 
they would present rather a sad appearance. 
Iu regard to the manner of feeding, we do 
know that it matters materially. To go 
around to 50 hives daily is quite a task, and 
one we cannot really recommend unless the 
Apiarist has nothing else to do. We last sea- 
son arranged cloth feeders iu every one of our 
hives, in such a manner that they could be 
tilled from a Coffee-pot, without opening the 
hive; but even then 'twas a “ back breaking” 
routine. If you have no sealed combs from 
stocks that have died, (ice are very fortunate 
in that respect) give them a tea-kettle feeder 
full, during a warm spell and then close down 
the quilt again. It will do no harm if you 
keep them supplied with an empty comb, at 
intervals. 
Feeding in the open air, Is by far the least 
trouble, and is, we believe superior to all other 
methods of stimulative feeding, providing you 
have no neighbor's who keep bees, except such 
as will join in and feed too, or at least pay 
their share of the necessary expense. See 
“Open Air Feeding” on another page. 
THE STANDARD HIVE. 
575 a.llIE.VD NOVICE As you are agitating the hive 
!ri J question somewhat, I will add my mite. 
“1 1 have nsed several long hives the past season 
and like them better than any other hives I ever used, 
the most of mine are 30 Inches long inside. In which I 
can place 20 frames 10xl4X inches, or I can Insert 
fewer frames and place 6 small boxes on either side. 
I think this size large enough for any swarm, I have 
tried some with the entrance in the end as In the New 
Idea, and others with the entrance in the side, and 
prefer the latter. Last season a medium sized swarm 
in one of these hives tilled 24 boxes after June 12. 
Swarms wintered on their summer stands In these 
hives, and on natural stores gathered early In the sea- 
son, wintered splendidly; while those swarms on 
which the Extractor was freely used, and artiUclal 
6Warms made late in the season were very badly 
affected with dysentery in any kind of hives. 
Knowersville, N. Y. W. D. WiUGHT. 
We really cannot see why, the entrance may 
uot as well be in one part of the hive as anoth- 
er, and in fact would suppose that by having 
it at the sides and thus saving them the task 
of going some little distance on foot, there 
might be an economy of valuable strength. 
However, as we have made no direct experi- 
ments of the kind, we of course should not 
decide hastily. 
Our bees wintered well, but the spring Is hard. We 
are doubling up considerably— killing the poorest 
Queens. We have 135 colonics, use combs 11 inches 
deep by 14 wide, hive 14E from fro*" 1 to rear. We use 
division board— hives hold hem 9 to at frames. 
Border Plains, Iowa. G. M. Dale. 
Doubling up our own colonies might have 
saved some, Vmt as some that we should have 
doubled are doing finely, and some that we 
should not, have done badly, and as there is 
considerable risk of having Queens killed by 
so doing iu the spring, we can hardly think it 
advisable after all. Our Mend's frames are 
just % inch longer than our Standard, and 
less in depth. Such is, not life, but, American 
Bee-keeper’s frames and hives; all good with- 
out doubt, but no uniformity. 
Think I have now decided to* retain my Am. frame, 
after ripping off the projections of top bar with Buzz- 
saw, and put them into a hive like your “Standard.” 
Have made and sold the Am. hive for 3 years in this 
vicinity, and that would be a strong reason for me to* 
still -use that sized framer 
Farina, Ills. T. P. Andrews, 
Had we the Am.^framc, 12x12, we think we 
should retain it. 
DEAR NOVICE :--My frames 12 x 12 are not divide 1 
by cross bars, as you suppose in your answer in 
Gleanings for March. They are my old Debeauvoy s 
frames mended a la Langstroth; therefore no wool 
across the combs interfered with the laying of the 
Queen, which was greatly superior to that of any 
Quinby hives. 
I see that you now think the size of the new Adair 
sections bettor than that of the Langstroth frame. 
I would prefer larger frames, especially if I intended 
to dispense with two stories. For ease of manage- 
ment it is more speedy to lift 8 frames than 11, let me 
also tell you that a Quinby frame, when full, never 
weighs more than 10 lbs., so that a child, or a young 
lady, can very easily transport them. If I were t > 
start an apiary, I would preter frames 1G Inches long 
and 12 wide, inside measure , and 1 think that if we 
had to establish a Standard that moasui r e would be 
the best. 
In the March number (1873) of the French Bee Joiu- 
nul, V Apiculleur, a bee-keeper is said to have coun- 
ted more than 5000 eggs deposited daily by a Queen, 
The hive used had 14 frames sixteen inches both ways. 
I have never been able to get more than 370.) egg.-* 
daily, l think therefore that the large surface of the 
combs had something to do with the increased laying. 
Who will decide about the American Standard ? My 
opinion is that we will have to get the advice of those 
who have used several sizes on a large scale ; and not. 
to imitate the Italian bee-keeper’s, who were so hasty 
in that matter. 
Hamilton, Ills. • Ciias. D adant. 
We have no doubt but that a large comb 
surface is an advantage to a heavy colony, but 
if the combs are carefully watched anti an 
empty one interposed at the proper intervals, 
we think the difference would be but little. If 
we use a comb much broader than .13% ( our 
standard) ’twill be difficult making. the cover 
and bottom of a single board ; also with the 
long hives we shall, when operating them, 
have to stand at the side, and to get hold of 
both ends of the comb will, if the comb is very 
broad and heavy, oblige us to stoop over in a- 
way that is very tiresome. In calling this our 
Standard, it is not with the expectation that 
all will adopt it, only that some who can com- 
mence as well as not on a “beaten track” will 
do so. Orders are sent us for frames of a mul- 
titude of different dimensions, but there seems 
to be more of a disposition to centre about (as 
it were) Il%xl3%, hence we adopt -that as a. 
standard. If the mass of Bee-keeper’s .'deman J 
a larger one for a Standard, of course we shall 
agree to it. 
The Langstroth and American seem to be 
most in use, but they are so unlike, that the 
use of both, in an apiary makes much confu 
sion. As we have given several appeals in 
favor of a larger frame, we will listen to one of 
the advocates of the other extreme; and friend 
Davis is a successful Apiarist, so far as honey 
is concerned at least, as wc happen to know. 
Hurrah 1 our bees are all right with two exceptions, 
one lost it® Queen, and the other is rather light. This 
is better thuu 1 ever wintered before. By the by * 
have wintered one Queenless stock, In tip-top eoudi- 
