1895 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



91 



of the usual form— two similar to these, but 

 having exits at both ends, and one with fifteen 

 exits in which the bees passed out under the 

 springs, and we wrote him, asking him, if he 

 cared to do so. to place the four in a board, and 

 test them comparatively, with one of the same 

 kind in a board, and also with the other forms 

 sent, and favor us with the result. But as yet 

 he has laken no notice of either the escape or 

 the letter. We can not doubt that both reach- 

 ed him, as both have request for return if not 

 delivered. 



At the same time, to Mr. R. C. Akin, of Colo- 

 rado, who had also been criticising escapes, 

 we sent a package of escapes identical to that 

 sent to Mr. Dayton. Mr. A. made the test 

 wished for, and reported that he could see no 

 advantage in the large forms, or in using more 

 than one to a board. 



Lewistown, 111., Jan. .5. 



[If Mr. Dayton received the package of es- 

 capes refirred too. perhaps he would hav.? no 

 objection lu reporting the result of his experi- 

 ments with them in these columns. I should 

 be glad to have him do so whenever he is pre- 

 pared to make such report. 



It occurs to me that it would not be a bad 

 idea to send a similar package of escapes to R. 

 L. Taylor, to be tested at the Michigan Experi- 

 ment Station. We will pay the expense of the 

 escapes, and also of those sent by Mr. Dayton 

 to the same place.— Ed.] 



HONEY-HOUSES FOB OUT-APIARIES. 



HOW PUAfTlCED BY W. I>. COGGSHALL. 

 I'LAIN, I'KACTIfAL INSTKUCTIONS; MANAGE- 

 MENT OF OUT- YARDS IN GENERAL. 



By Hnrrij S. Howe. 



It seems to me as though the slight expense of 

 a permanent building is more than balanced by 

 the advantages of having a place where the ex- 

 tractor and other things can be kept under 

 cover and reaoy for instant use. At the present 

 prices of extracti d honey we have got to reduce 

 the work to the fewest possible motions and to 

 the least possible expense if we are to make it 

 profitable. 



By having permanent buildings at the out- 

 yards, any one can save a great deal of the ex- 

 pense of transportation. If we are to do as Mr. 

 Coggshall does, and visit two or three yards in a 

 day, and take three or four thousand pounds of 

 honey, we must have the work reduced to a 

 perfect system. 



After one or two trips with a team and heavy 

 wagon in the spring, to take the kegs, etc., to 

 the yards, the trips can be made in a buggy, if 

 two or three are to go, or on the wheel if but one, 

 until time to draw away the honey in the fall. 



As Mr. C. and I have worked together, one 

 puts out the horse while the other lights the 

 smoker and prepares for work in the yard. By 

 the time the horse is cared for the empty kegs 

 for the day's work have been tested by blowing 

 into them, and we are ready to commence to 



take off the honey. When the yard has been 

 gone over, it is an equally short job to pick up 

 and start. One gets the horse while the other 

 goes through the yard and sees that no fire has 

 been left, and attends to any other little mat- 

 ters. Then away we go, three or four miles, to 

 the next one. 



Nearly every thing that is likely to be used at 

 the yard is kept there, so there is no forgetting 

 to take some important thing. 



Mr. C. wears his veil in his hat all the season, 

 consequently it is always ready. When there is 

 but little to do, one man can get to the yard on 

 a wheel or in a buggy, and go over it very 

 rapidly, if every thing he is to use is there 

 handy. 



Mr. C.'s nine houses and my two are all very 

 nearly alike. They are 12x16, and 8 feet high at 

 the eaves, made of rough lumber, but having 

 good floors. Sixteen-foot boards cut in two 

 make the sides; twelve-foot boards, the floor, 

 which must have a good foundation in order 

 to support the weight of the honey, without 

 sagging. The door should be wide enough for 

 the cart or wheelbarrow, or whatever you use 

 to carry in the honey, to go through easily. 

 The windows are the size of one large sash, and 

 slide sidewise to open. They are covered with 

 wire cloth on the outside, and have bee-escapes 

 at the top. 



The house should be at the lower side of the 

 yard, and so situated that you can get in with- 

 out having to go up a high step with a load of 

 honey. Following is a plan of the house: 



0-- 



OPail. 



Extiaiti 



o 



.^^;:on«"^" 



On entering the door, the first is a stand, just 

 the right height for the filled carryall. Beyond 

 and in front of the window is one of Mr. C.'sown 

 make of four-frame non-reversible extractors, 

 which holds 300 lbs. under the reel. From this 

 the honey passes through a large honey-gate to 

 a ten-quart pail; then into a store-can holding 

 from 300 to ,500 lbs., and which is just at the 

 right height to run the honey into the two 

 110-lb. pine kegs, which are stored in the back 

 part of the room as fast as filled. 



We do not usually begin to draw oil the honey 

 from the extractor until it is pretty well up, so 



