Manual of the apiary

by Albert John Cook

THE LANGSTROTH HIVE.

This ([Fig, 29]) is the hive most in use among Americans and Britons, if not among all who practice improved apiculture. It is stated that the late Major Munn was first to invent this style of hive. He states (see Bevan, p. 37) that he first used it in 1834. But, as suggested by Neighbour in his valuable hand-book, the invention was of no avail to apiarists, as it was either unknown, or else ignored by practical men. This invention also originated independently with Rev. L. L. Langstroth, who brought it forth in 1851, so perfect, that it needed scarce any improvement; and for this gift, as well as his able researches in apiculture, as given in his invaluable book, "The Honey-Bee," he has conferred a benefit upon our art which cannot be over-estimated, and for which we, as apiarists, cannot be too grateful. It was his book—one of my old teachers, for which I have no word of chiding—that led me to some of the most delightful investigations of my life. It was his invention—the Langstroth hive—that enabled me to make those investigations. For one, I shall always revere the name of Langstroth, as a great leader in scientific apiculture, both in America and throughout the world. His name must ever stand beside that of Dzierzon and the elder Huber. Surely this hive, which left the hands of the great master in so perfect a form, that even the details remain unchanged by many of our first bee-keepers, should ever bear his name. Thus, though I prefer and use the size of frame first used, I believe, by Mr. Gallup, still I use the Langstroth hive. (See [Appendix, page 287]).

Fig. 29.

CHARACTER OF THE HIVE.

The main feature of the hive should be simplicity, which, would exclude doors, drawers, and traps of all kinds. The body should be made of good pine or white-wood lumber, one inch thick, thoroughly seasoned, and planed on both sides. It should be simply a plain box ([Fig, 30]), without top or bottom, and of a size and form to suit the apiarist. The size will depend upon our purpose. If we desire no comb-honey, or desire comb-honey in frames, the hive may contain 4,000 cubic inches. If we desire honey in boxes, it should not contain over 2,000, and may be even smaller. If the hive is to be a two-story one—that is, one hive above a similar hive below ([Fig, 29])—I prefer that it should be eighteen inches long, twelve inches wide, and twelve inches deep, inside measure. If simply small frames or boxes are to be used above, I would have the hive at least two feet long. A three-fourths inch rabbet should be cut from the top of the sides or ends as the apiarist prefers, on the inside ([Fig, 30, c]).

Fig. 30

The rabbet may equal a little more than one-half the thickness of the board. Heavy tin strips ([Fig, 33]), three-fourths of an inch wide, should be tacked to the side below the rabbet, so as to reach one-fourth of an inch above the shoulder. These are to bear the frames, and are convenient, as they prevent the frames from becoming glued to the hive. We are thus able to loosen the frames without jarring the bees. I would not have hives without such tin rabbets, though some apiarists, among whom is Mr. James Heddon, of this State, whose rank as a successful apiarist is very high, do not like them. The objection to them is cost, and liability of the frames to move when the hive is moved. But with their use we are not compelled to pry the frames loose, and are not so likely to irritate the bees, while making an examination of the contents of the hive, which arguments are conclusive with me.

Any one who is not a skilled mechanic, especially if he has not a buzz-saw, had better join the sides of his hives after the style of making common dry-goods boxes ([Fig, 30]). In this case, the sides not rabbeted should project by, else the corners will have to be stopped up where they were rabbeted.