Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-04-30
lFrom the Dollar Newspaper-Phil.I !
Langstreth's Hive.

AoA5ntaOLA A1foS
promised the readers OF the Dollar
Newspaper" sometime ago, that they should
be advised of my success with the "Lanp-
strongth Moveable Comb Hiye.'' From the
time that made the promise it is expected.
perhaps THAT should say something although
am not prepared for lull report. | had
ninety of these hives constructed, and in the
swarmlng season put in the bees. | found
some difficulty at first in persuadins the bees
to enter readily. Afterwards l tried hiving
them in box OF common hive first, and then
removing the honey board from the top, and
jarrlng out a few bees directly ON the frames,
then sliding on the top and shaking the re-
mainder at the entrance. Ia this way sue
ceeded in hiving them without much trouble
On the whole, the trouble of hiving them
is twice that of the common hive. OF course
could discover No difference in the in
dustry of the bees in these or any other hives
Our summer was so wei that much less than
their usual stores were collected, half our
swarms and some old stocks failed 10 get sui
ticent for winter. None but large first
swarIns, or when two more were united
will make good stocks. In this emergency
| found particular advantage in the move
able frames. In the hives too light for win
ter, there would be few frames continuing
several pounds of honey. In those hives
having almost enough, there would be some
frames containing very little. AS the frames
and hives were all made exactly alike, it
was an easy matter 10 remove the lightest
| frames and replace them with the heavier
ones from the other. 1t this way many were
helped TO store, with what they already had,
sufficient for wintering the bees, otherwise,
should have had To feed item up 10 the
proper weight or condemn them for stock -
Ii is true have done similar thing with the
common hive; that is, have cut out the
combs from hive part full and given them
to another one part full, and winterec the
bees successfully; but the change is not so
readily accomplished.
! | winter all my bees in the house To
get rid of the moisture, turn the hives bot
tom up, consequently all dust and dead bees
must fall in the top of the hive. That is OBJ
jectonable, but yet it is decidedly better
than mouldy combs that we have when right
side up. But with the frame hive, have
only to remove the honey board or top which
is loose, and the hive is effectually ventillat-
ed right side up, with the advantage of hav-
ing the dead bees and filth fall to the bJttc'm
and out of the combs
| have so far only reported up to the pres
ent time, but / expect more advantages as
stock hives another year. In the spring
some OF the stocks will have consumed about
all their stores; others will have on hand
more than they need, which is often detri-
ment; can simply change comb or two
and 1t will be equalized.
! Most swarms, in constructing combs, VIII
make altogether too many cells for rearing
drones. There is no necessity OF twenty
colonies OF bees standing together, to rear
more drones than for one, when standing
alone. Nature had to provide drones for in
] solated colonies, and when great number
of stocks are brought together they each fol-
| low their instinct and rear thousands OF use
less consumers. 1t not only requires great
many pounds of honey to rear this brood Of
drones, but REQUIRES the labor of great
many workers afterwards to support them.
| A great many traps have been contriTed to
catch and destroy these drones, aud one or
more patents granted for hive, the chief
merit of which was such trap. When ex-
amining these frames in the spring, any one
containing too many drone cells can be TAX
en- away and replaced " ith frame of work
er cells taken from some of the light hives.
| This is taking the matter in .he beginning
because the bees, without the cells to rear
the drones in, could not, if they would, waste
so much material worse than uselessly.-
What effect it would have to deprive colo
ny entirely of drone comb we cannot tell
probably it would be well to have a few in
each hive until the effect of total depriya-
ton is ascertained by farther experiment.
Another great advantage that expect to
realize is the prevention of second swarms
a thing impracticable with the common hive.
For mysrlt, one swarm from stock is all
with. Second and third swarms, when hived
singly, seldom amount to much; it is only
when two or three are put together that we
can get box honey. The old stocks are often
reduced by castug too many new swarms
and have not bees enough left to work in the
boxes, also are fequentiy % weak for wint>r
| A day or two before | expect the second
/ swarms, can take out the frames and des-
troy all the queen cells but one, and then am
sure of no further swarming for the season
Old stocks frequently lose their queens in
the swarming season; unless this LOSS is as.
certained by their peculiar manifestations
within two or three days Of its occurrence
the indications will then cease. and know
of no farther means of ascertaning it for
some weeks afterwards. By this time it Of
ten happens that such stocks are past recov-
cry. This, to me. is the source OF consider
/ able loss, and, as have SO many away from
home, il is unavoidable. But with the help
of the frames | can ascertain this point in
two minutes. by lifting ou, one more any
time after the young queen should have com
menced her maternal duties, eggs or brood
indicate her presence without looking for
her.
Although the true method with the nlo,h-
worm in any hive is to keep strong colonies
to prevent their access. yet. with this one,
should any family get reduced and the worms
effect Judgement in part of the combs, they
may be attacked in their stronghosds and ef
.fectaalty routed at any time. These are the
principal but not all the advantages that
expect by the use Of said hive. The cost
will be but few shillngs over the ccuifiion
hive; which expect will be balanced by the
aforesaid advantages. am aware that to
realine all the Benefits arising from the hive
person must fully understand the nature u'
The bee, and must know tohy. ichen and
dotb a thing is TO be done: For these reasons
shall probably make more out of the fore
going facilities than most bee-keepers.-
Many will object to the hive as too com?li-
} Gated, and also as interfering with their nat
ural arrangements by changing conrbs. etc.
! Very well, any one not capable of appreci-
ating these and other advantages, or who has
not the fearless energy to perform some oi
the operationsj had better not use the hive
1,he simnIe boy hive woud be safer and less