Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-09-06

when hived upon foundation they can
store no honey until the foundation is
drawn out; hence they are compelled
to store it in the surplus boxes until
the foundation is drawn out, and as
soon as the formation is even partially
drawn, the queen begins to occupy it
with eggs. The bees, having com,
menced to store honey in the boxes,
continue to do so; hence do not crowd
the brood nest with honey, thus en-
abling the queen to lay to her utmost
capacity, and the result is that the
brood nest is filled with brood, and the
honey boxes with honey, which is as it
should be. When hived upon empty
frames, the result is the same as when
foundation is used, except that, as the
bees are compelled to build the comb,
the brood nest is more slowly filled
with comb, and the queen fills the
combs with eggs as fast as they are
built, while the honey is carried into
the boxes; and although zone swal-
low does not make summer" it is the
writer's belief that, had the expert.
ment been fairly conducted, those
swarms hived upon empty frames
would have stored as much surplus as
those given foundation, perhaps more.
When managed in this manner, the
boxes are taken from the old hive and
placed upon the new hive, when the
swarm is hived, and the queen kept in
her proper sphere by a queen exclud'
ing honey board. Enough has been
proved to show that this subject is
worthy of consideration, and, if posi-
bic, another season, the writer viii
conduct some conclusive experiments.
He does not wish your readers to un
derstand him as expressing doubts il
regard to the ACCESSIBILITY of using
comb foundation, or empty combs, ii
any other place, or under other Cir
cumstances. In working for extract
ed honey he would most certainly ust
one Or the other, as he always wouIC
in working for increase. Section box
es he would fill with very light foun
dation.
Yesterday the writer received an
other sample of reversible frame; it i
the same in principle as the one illus
trated in the American Bee Journal
as mentioned in the article on reversi
BILE frames, but instead of the films,
supports of wire nails, prongs of fold
ed tin are attached to the centre 0
each end bar. In the article on re
versible frames, the idea was advanced
that, if the combs were reversed at tn
close of the white honey-harvest, tn
upper part of them would be likely t
be filled with honey of an inferIo
quality, which, unless removed, Nigh
lead to wintering troubles; but in al
} article in Gleanings in Beef Culture
Mr.. James HeddOn hints that, by re
versing the combs again at or near tn
! close of the last honey flow, the comb
will be left nearly empty, thus afford
| ind an opportunity to feed sugar with
out first going through that trying or
} deal of extracting, after all honey fov
: is over. Simple, and apparently a
valuable, as is this idea, it had neve
occurred to the writer. If reversal, q
the close of the last honey flow, wi
| secure brood combs nearly free fror
7 honey, and it is probable that it vii
3 the writer would consider it the mos
S valuable feature yet mentioned in fave
of reversible frames. Mr.. Heddo
l. has not yet given to the public d,
0 scriptiOn of his reversible frame, BIT
b promises to do so at the close of tn
i season. He says it is hanging, la
e orally movable frame, but he gives L
details. w. z. HUTCHINSON.
, Genesee County, Mich.
/ California Letter.