" “best hive. 
March 1, 1909 
BEE -CULTURE. 
Advice to Beginners. 
By Isaac Hopkins, Apiarian, in Bulletin 
18 of N.Z. Department of Agriculture. 
II. THE HIVE TO ADOPT, 
(Continued from last Issue.) 
Happily the time is past when it was 
necessary to explain the difference be- 
tween a common box and a modern- 
mevable-comb hive as a domicile for 
bees. Any one keeping bees in’ common 
boxes now does so deliberately, and at a 
loss to himself. Nearly every box-hive 
beekeeper smothers his bees over a ‘sul- 
pher-pit, and does not get one-tenth of 
the honey he might secure by adopting 
modern hives. 
. [had the great pleasure of introducing 
the Langstroth hive into Australasia in 
the season of 1877-78, and it’ has_practi- 
cally been the standard for these colonies 
ever since; it may therefore be expected 
that I shall recommend it here. 
Tt will not be out of place to make a 
few remarks about this hive. In 1851 
(fifty-eight years ago) the Rev, LL. 
Langstroth perfected the hive which now 
bears his name, and gave’ it to the 
world, It is astonishing when we realise 
how perfect it must have been when it 
left his hands, for, notwithstanding the 
many attempts made since’ to improve 
upon it, the Langstroth hive remaing to- 
day not only the same, but the foremost 
in use and popularity among the most 
experienced apiarists in the _world. We 
rarely hear at the present time of such 
hives as the Quinly, Adair, American, and 
Gallup, yet these were favoured largely in 
America at various times; they have gone, 
and the Langstroth remains. Even the 
famous G. M. Doolittle, the great Ameri- 
can authority on bee culture, and the 
erstwhile champion of the Gallup hive 
and frame has come round to the Lang- 
stroth. I have before meanextract from 
a letter received recently by an Auckland 
_ resident from Mr. Doolittle in reply to 
one sent him asking his opinion as to the 
He says, — 
I do not now use the hive I described 
in my little book ‘The Hive I use’ to the 
extent I did, as I find the Langstroth | 
hive does nearly as well with less labour 
and we have only the 11b. sections now, 
the larger (21 lb.) not finding a ready 
sale. I judge the Langstroth hiye is as 
good as any for New Zealand. 
It is evident that Mr. Doolittle feels a 
pang in giving up his old love, and though 
he reluctantly does so. he admits the 
Langstroth is the best hive. It is grati- 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
fying to me when I remember how per- 
sistently I have advocated in the past 
this hive against all comers, 
It is the misfortune of many beginners 
to believe before they even understand 
properly the rudiments of bee-culture, 
that they can improve on tne Langstroth 
hive, and then and there start out’ to 
modify it in some shape or form, only to 
regret it when experience has convinced 
them of their mistake and loss. I have 
nothing to say against an experienced 
beekeeper experimenting in any direction 
he may consider an improvement possible 
—in fact, he. should be commended for 
doing so—but having seen so Many mis- 
takes made by beginners I feel it my duty 
to warn others against falling into the 
same errors. 
Maxine Htvus.---There is no reason 
why a person handy with tools, and with 
spare time on his hands, should not make 
_ his own hives, but it must be understood 
that they must be made accurately. On 
the other hand, a person may find it to 
his advantage to purchase all he requires 
from the manufacturers, as hives can now 
be procured at very reasonable prices, In 
the former-case one at least should be 
purchased, in order to have an accurate 
pattern to work from. The internal 
fittings such as frames and sections should 
certainly be procured from the manu- 
facturers, as it is well-nigh impossible to 
make these accurate enough without 
machinery. f 
A very good plan when more than one 
hive is wanted is to get one made up, and 
the rest in the flat, in parts ready to be 
nailed together, and so save in cost of 
carriage, 
Seen 
How Bees “ Buzz.” 
‘One day I was addressine some ele- 
mentary schoolboys,’ says a teacher. on the 
subject of bees, and, turning to a bright- 
looking tittle chap, I said: 
‘With what part of its body does a bee 
buzz, Jimmy?’ 
‘Jimmy answered 
ignorant] y— 
‘It’s buzzom, sir.’ 
“fhe other boys laughed loudly. So did 
I? 
confijently, but 
I’m sorry to have to mess your face SO, 
Kitty, said Tommy, as'‘he daubed pussy’s 
face with jam, ‘but I can’t have people 
suspecting me,’ 
ae aa 
‘Poor b’ye!’ exclaimed O'Hara, condoling 
with Cassidy, who had been injured in 
blasting’ operations at the quarry. “Tis 
tough luck teh hav’? yer hand blowed 
off, 
“Och! Faith, it might have been’ worse,’ 
replied Cassidy’ ‘Suppose O'id had me 
week’s wage in me hand at the toime?; 
The Young Folks. 
A Pussy Cat’s Tale. 
When Lizzie had a birthday gift 
(A sweet canary bird), 
As you might guess, I had to shift 
To just where they preferred. 
The bird, of course, was quite beloved, 
And I put out of sicht; 
When bedtime comes, of course I’m shoved 
Into the yard all night! 
This morning there was quite a row 
About a bit of fish; 
The mice, they said. got in somehow 
And stole it from the dish; 
At other things the mice did try 
To nibble or two bite. 
Now comes the question—where was Ip 
Out in the yard all night! 
My life is not all £ desire— 
So you needn’t think it is!” 
Though sometimes I get near the fire, 
Or in the lap of Liz; 
But on the whole my life is rough, 
And what I séy is right; 
Of one thing I’ve had quite enough— 
Out in the yard all night! 
Tam a great, big tubby cat— 
Quite portly, so they Say; 
But still the food that makes me fat 
Is what they’d throw away. 
One night they left some Irish stew; 
f ate it with delight! : 
They grumbled, and poor me they threw 
Into the yard next night! 
NE EET 
Conundrums. 
When is a doctor most annoyed ? 
When he is out of patients. 
Why is grass like a mouse ? 
Because the cat'll eat it, (Cattle eat it). 
How was the admiral’s naval rank - 
reduced when he married the widow ? 
He became her second mate. 
Why is the first chicken of a brood 
like the main mast of a ship ? 
Because it’s a little ahead of the main 
hatch, 
What is the difference between a milk. 
maid and a swallow ? 
The milkmaid skims the mjl and the 
~ swallow skims the water 
What is the difference between pugilist 
and a man with a cold ? 
One knows his blows, and the other 
blows his nose 
Who is the man that can drive away 
customers and still keep them ? 
The cabby. 
» Which is the most wonderful animal ? 
The pig ; it is killed, and then cured, 
