Year: 1861

sA ~ @es q. Rcr the HaWk-Eys.


hlnts on Nee Keeping...No. 4.


of making many books there il no end, and
precisely 70 about hives Their name is Legion
and each distinct patent better than all the
rest! No estimate can be made of the enormous
sums expended in past times in this country for
Patent bee hives. An Of them have failed 70
answer the purpose for which they were design
Cd, and intelligent persons have generally dis
carded them. all. and gone back TO the simple
hive, with chamber for surplus honey; as most
congenial 70 the habits and instincts of the bee.


Within few years Mr. Drierson of Germany,
and Mr.. Longstroth in this country. both clergy
men, have made many new and interesting dis
coveries in relation to the natural history of the
bee. Upon these discoveries they have founded
and are introducing a new system Of bee keep
ing. The subject is full Of interest to scientific
men, and the hives of Mr.. Longstroth, which
consist of moyeable frames, on which the comb
is built, and which slide on rabbets into the
box which forms the hive, are being adopted
and experimental with. Mr.. Longstroth claims
for them, that they inaugurate a new era in
bee keeping, and many old and experienced
apiarians are adopting his theory and practice.
hope to try them for myself in small way
this summer. For the present it seems to me
the expense OF the Patent right, and the extra
cost of the hive, form an insuperabe objection
to them in this new country. 1t is well said
that "bees will not pay cent for extra ex-
penses," they work as well in hollow log as in
the incest painted hive--and where profit is the
object, simple form of hive is the only one that
will pay. The novice IN the business should re-
member that from the days Of Virgil learned
men have been studying the habits of the bee.
Several have devoted their whole lives to the
the subject commencing with Huber, that won.
derful example of perseverance under difficult
ties. A life time of experience in the business
can not give us the actual knowledge we can
purchase for one dollar when We buy Quimby's
treatise on the subject, Ny way was to follow
his directions implicitly until l had experience
Of my own to guide me- Any one who can use
a saw, hammer and augur, can make the hives
use; and for purposes of profit alone, l should
never desire better. The material is any kind
of we'll seasoned lumber-pine is the best, be-
cause so easily worked. make mine to hold
1000 cubic inches-l2 inches square inside by
IA inches high. This size is amply large in any
season, and intend to lay some smaller 172S
inches), this year. think that would be suffi-
ciently large, when wintered as 1 winter them
The top boards should be 15 inches square
with FIVE holes in one row and five in another,
at equal distances Over these holes, glass or
wooden boxes can be placed in the honey sea-
son, and exchanged for others as fast as they
arc filed. make my boxes of common window
glass, SxlO or l0112-cut in two, lengthaoise for
the sides, and one half cut into again to form
the ends-corner posts fve-eighths of an inch
square with channel made with the same to
admit the glass-and top and bottom of one
half inch lumber, with holes in the bottom to
correspond with those in the hive; one lath nail
in each post, top and bottom fastens it. When
glass boxes are used, cap or cover must be put
over them. make mine 13 inches square inside
by inches high. This can be made of inferior
lumber to that used for hives. much prefer





glass boxes to wooden ones, even if a little more
expensive. You can watch the progress of the
bees in filling them, without disturbing them,
and the honey looks nicer and is more saleable.
A hole bored half way up in the front of the hive
with a small notch sawed out at the bottom, are
sufficient entrances. Hives should be left as
rough as possible imsids-the outside may be as
nice as the taste of the maker may dictate. If
painted, they should be perfectly aired and dry
before the bees are put in them. Two sticks
should cross each other inside to aid in support
ing the comb. The bees should nesr be dis
turbed by taking honey from the main hive. All
they make there should be their own property
they will not work in boxes until the hive is full
below, or nearly 80. A swarm that works in
boxes after filling hive Of this size will never
starve in the longest winter.


POSITION OF HIVES.


Hivos cbonld stand naor tho CrouDd and oach