July 28, 1904. 



TH£ AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



517 



8. To enforce the laws against the adulteration of honey. 



9. To secure laws against spraying fruit-trees while in 

 bloom. 



10. To obtain statistics concerning bees and bee-pro- 

 ducts within our State. 



11. To enter upon a crusade of apicultural education in 

 this State, both for producers and consumers of honey. 



12. To instruct fruit-growers and farmers as to the 

 practical value of bees as fertilizing agents for their plants, 

 and to show the fact that they are wholly beneficial and 

 never injurious 



13. To raise the rank of Pennsylvania as a honey-pro- 

 ducing State from fourth in the Union to first, if possible. 



14. To band together all the bee-keepers of the State for 

 the purpose of good fellowship, and that strength which is 

 to be obtained only by union. 



15. To make it possible for all persons who are not now 

 keeping bees to add to their revenues by the production of 

 honey, and to increase both the quantity and quality of the 

 honey produced in this State. 



The Association desires the name and address of every 

 man in the State who has one or more colonies of bees, 

 and for this purpose invites persons to correspond with 

 the Secretary, stating the number of colonies kept, and 

 giving statistics as to the amount of honey and wax pro- 

 duced each year. The membership fee is only one dollar 

 per year, which also entitles the individual to membership 

 in the National Bee-Keepers' Association, and gives him 

 special protection and assistance at any time that it may be 

 required. For example : If a member of the National 

 Association becomes involved in litigation, the National 

 Association will furnish expert testimony and counsel such 

 as may be necessary to secure equity in the courts of justice. 



This commendable undertaking should receive a large 

 membership, and all persons interested are invited to send 

 their names, addresses and fees to the secretary, and these 

 will be registered and receipted. 



The next meeting will be held in Harrisburg during the 

 first week of December, when several papers will be pre" 

 sented by practical and expert inen bearing upon the vari- 

 ous problems of the bee-culturists in Pennsylvania. 





Some Expert Opinion 



' In the multitude of couiisellui-^ iliere is safety." — Bible. 



The Uneapping-Box, shown on the first page this 

 week, is thus described in the Bee-Keepers' Review by its 

 owner, Mr. H. G. Sibbald, one of Canada's successful bee- 

 keepers : 



A convenient and roomy uncapping-box that will hold 

 the cappings from three or four thousand pounds of hone}- 

 is a boon to any bee-keeper in the busy season. The one 

 shown is easily made, and fills the need very well. 



It is 5 feet long, 16 inches wide, and is made in two sec- 

 tions, each 9 or 10 inches deep. The lower section is for 

 honey, and, with the exception that the corners of the side- 

 boards are halved together, it is simply a well-nailed and 

 neatly-made box, waxed inside at all joints, with a tap at 

 one end to draw off honey ; the legs being a little shorter at 

 the end having the tap, so that the honey will run off 

 readily. The top half or section is made the same way, 

 only that, instead of a board bottom, it has a nice screen 

 bottotri which allows the honey to drain from the cappings. 

 Two small pieces, 2'2xjs inches, are used for braces to 

 strengthen this top ; and between the left hand one and the 

 end are two strips about Ix -4 inches, to rest the comb on 

 while uncapping. The two spaces to the right, between 

 the braces, are used to set the super of combs on while un- 

 capping, and after uncapping, any drip will then be caught. 

 The bottom section is halved on the inside edge ; the top 

 halved on the outside edge, so as to fit the inside so that it 

 can not leak. H G. Sibbald. 



•• The Hum of the Bees in the Apple-Tree Bloom " is 

 the name of the finest bee-keeper's song — words by Hon- 

 Eugene Secor and music by Dr. C. C. Miller. This is 

 thought by some to be the best bee-song yet written by Mr. 

 Secor and Dr. Miller. It is, indeed, a " hummer." We can 

 furnish a single copy of it postpaid, for 10 cents, or 3 copies 

 for 25 cents. Or, we will mail a half-dozen copies of it for 

 sending us one new yearly subscription to the American 

 Bee Journal at SI .00. 





Proper Distance for Frame-Spacing. 



11. — (u) What distance areyour fniiiieii apaeed frotu center lu center? 

 ('') If you mere starting anew, tvhat distance would you space themt 

 (r') What are your reasons for your preference for either distance f 



N. E. France (Wis.)— a. 1'^ inches in brood-chamber ; 

 1^4 for surplus combs. 



J. M. Hambaugh (Calif.)— a. From 1^ to 1J4 inches 

 from center to center, b. I have no desire to change. 



G. M. DOOLITTLE (N. Y.)— a. 1'4 inches, b. I'i; inches, 

 c. Because the bees so space when building comb without 

 being manipulated by man. 



Prof. A. J. Cook (Calif.)— a. l>'s inches, b. I's inches, 

 c. It is enough, is compact, protects brood best, and all 

 superfluous space is to be avoided. 



C. P. Dadant (111.)— a. I'/i inches, b. Same, or very 

 little less. c. The combs are easier to handle, being as 

 fully spaced as the bees will allow. 



C. H. DiBBERN (111.) — a. l;s inches, b. I would not 

 change it. c. That seems to be just what the bees would 

 space them were no frames given them. 



Mrs. J. M. Null (Mo.)— a. I don't stop to measure dis- 

 tance ; simply use the eye and touch to determine the space, 

 making it a close bee-space, b. I don't want bulged combs. 



Dr. J. P. H. Brown (Ga.)— a. About 1 7-16 inches. 



b. I would not change. c. This distance approximates 

 nearest to the septa of the combs as constructed by the 

 bees. 



E. Whitcomb (Nebr.)— a. I'l inches, b. About lU 

 inches, c. To have them of a standard width and to pre- 

 vent their being heavy and bunglesome for handling or 

 extracting. 



O. O. POPPLKTON (Fla.)— a. l-s inches, b. The same. 



c. This seems the right distance for best results in brood- 

 rearing, and can readily be increased for honey-storing, if 

 thought best. 



P. H. Elwood (N. Y.) — a. iv, inches, b. l}i inches, 

 c. With our frames, any accumulation of propolis increases 

 the distance, and I believe iy& is enough for brood. For ex- 

 tracting, 1,'2 is all right. 



S. T. Pettit (Out.)— a. I's inches, b. lis inches, 

 c. When left to the bees that is their choice. Anything 

 less hastens swarming ; anything more is a waste of room 

 and heat just when we want all the heat possible. 



Jas. a. Stone (111.)— a. 1 7-16 inches, b. I do not know 

 any reason for making a change, c. Supposing this is the 

 distance that brood requires, a greater distance would be 

 wasted space, for the bees will accommodate themselves to 

 the space. 



Eugene Secor (Iowa)— a. I'l inches, b. Same. c. I 

 believe that to be about right where brood is reared and 

 honey all stored in the same combs. There is more room 

 to cluster in winter than if spaced closer. The frames are 

 easily removed. 



G. W. Demarke (Ky.) — a. My frames are spaced the 

 regular Langstroth distance apart— Ifs from center to cen- 

 ter of the frames, when the combs are being constructed by 

 the bees. b. If I were starting anew I would make no 

 change, c. My reasons are : Close spacing at the start 



