1910 



GLEANINGS IN BEP: CULTURE 



583 



AVith regard to the definite control of fer- 

 tilization, I may say this has been the 

 dream of my many years of experimental 

 and practical bee culture. Fertilization by 

 hand and mechanical means I have tried 

 with untiring patience, but without much 

 success hitherto; and in years gone by the 

 process was repeatedly conducted at my 

 apiary in the presence of the late F. R. 

 Cheshire, who was able to report a partial 

 success resulting from one of my experi- 

 ments. 



The flight of drones and queens in con- 

 fined areas has also given me much unprof- 

 itable occupation, except that such experi- 

 ments may at last have led me to the real 

 so'ution of the whole problem, as I can now 

 see quite clearly just why all such trials 

 have been doomed to failure. I hope to 

 refer again to this most interesting subject 

 at no distant date. 



Heathfield, Sussex, Eng., Dec. 20, 1909. 



A FLAT, METAL - ROOFED, VENTILATED 

 COVER, 



BY WESLEY FOSTER. 



The needs that brought about the design 

 of this cover were these: A cover that could 

 be made at the local planing-mill; one that 

 would be cheaper than those regular styles 

 manufactured; one the wind could not blow 

 off easily, and a cover that would turn the 

 rain, protecting the sections during the 

 heaviest rainstorms. Wooden covers warp 



and check so much in this climate that 

 nothing but a metal-roofed cover will stand 

 any term of years. 



This cover consists of ten pieces — nine of 

 wood and one of sheet tin, iron, or galvan- 

 ized iron to shed the water. First there are 

 the two main cover-boards, an inch and a 

 half shorter than the length of the hive, 

 and their combined width just the width of 

 the hive. Then there are two strips I4 inch 

 wide, each, that are nailed across the ends, 

 making this cover-board with strips just the 

 length of the hive. Next we have two strips 

 of inch stuff two inches wide and the length 

 of the width of the hive. These are nailed 

 on the top at each end into the ends of the 

 cover-boards. These lop end-strips, with 



the ^-inch end strips underneath, make the 

 ends doubly strong, as they are nailed 

 across each other, giving almost the strength 

 of a dovetailed corner. The three pieces 

 left are Yz inch by one inch, and the length 

 of the width of the hive. These are nailed 

 across equidistant between the end-strips on 

 the top. Wlien these five strips are all 

 nailed on, the metal roof of tin or galvan- 

 ized iron, folded over each side Yz inch, is 

 nailed on. The metal is cut just the length 

 of the hive, and does not fold over the ends. 

 These five strips raise the cover an inch 

 from the wood, giving this much air-space; 

 and if upward ventilation is wanted, a hole, 

 say one inch by two, may be cut in the cen- 

 ter of the wood part of the cover, and a 

 piece of wire cloth tacked over. This will 

 let any moisture from the cluster pass off. 

 The metal folding over the side but Yi. inch 

 gives a half-inch space along the side for 

 the free circulation of air. 



As to the cost, the lumber cost us 9 cents 

 at one time and 11 cents the next. I think 

 we shall have to figure on 11 cents hereaft- 

 er. The galvanized iron costs 10 to 12 cents, 

 already cut to size and folded ready for 

 tacking on. By using a thin quality of 

 plain black sheet iron the cost for the metal 

 does not exceed three or four cents. 



Mr. Oliver Foster is the designer of this 

 cover, and makes it very nearly the same 

 dimensions I have given. He uses a thin 

 grade of black sheet iron, and merely curls 

 the edges of the iron, so as not to leave a 

 sharp edge that will cut one's hands. This 

 gives the full inch or >^-inch open space 

 clear along the side. We prefer the galvan- 

 ized iron, as it is heavier, and one can sit 

 down on the cover without bending the 

 metal. The galvanized iron does not need 

 painting, but will be somewhat cooler if a 

 coat or two of paint is applied. 



We like these covers very much, and 

 have 200 of them in use, and shall have 

 more as we need them, and as the other 

 kinds we have wear out. 



A SEPARATOR CLEANER AND SCRAPER. 



We always cleaned our separators with an 

 ordinary hive-scraper until we made this 

 machine. A large sheet of tin was nailed 

 on the top of our scraping-table, and the 

 separators laid down flat on this tin when 

 being scraped. The result was that many 

 of the scalloped edges broke off in the op- 

 eration, and the muscular effort required 

 became very tiring when scraping was done 

 by the thousand. 



This little machine does the work in ex- 

 cellent shape if it is made right, adjusted 

 carefully, and the operator understands it. 

 The blades are made from an old saw, and 

 are sharpened rather blunt, though not 

 square, on the cutting edge. One of the 

 blades is fastened solid, and the other blade 

 hinges on to this stationary one. The bot- 

 toms of the blades come together w ithin jV 

 inch, just the thickness of a separator. The 

 blades are set to each other at an angle of 

 45 degrees, giving a strong and sure cutting 

 power when the blades are brought together 



