1893 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



91 



times their value as fertilizers of fruit-bearing: 

 blossoms is referred to. Tliat all might be- 

 come thus enlightened is the wish of every bee- 

 keeper, including the Ramiu.er. 



CHEAP BEE-ESCAPES. 



GOOD ONES THAT ANY ONE CAN MAKE. 



I was considerably interested in that cheap 

 bee-escape that "' doesn't cost a cent," described 

 on page 33. I have tried almost every form of 

 bee-escape that has been suggested in recent 

 years, as well as many devices of my own that 

 have never seen the light; but I will admit that 

 this idea is new to me. I have but little doubt 

 that it will work, just as the writer says; but 

 the material (common newspaper) is of such a 

 flimsy nature that it is not likely it could be 

 used more than once. Even then it is probable 

 the super would have to be removed as soon as 

 the bees were fairly out of it, or they would 

 soon eat holes through it. That empty super 

 under it is also a serious drawback. Still, the 

 idea is a valuable one. and may often serve us 

 in an emergency. 



During the past season I have experimented 

 a good deal with delicate springs made of mica, 

 such a^ is used in stoves. Some of the designs 

 which I made and tested worked nicely, includ- 

 ing two patterns illustrated in the December 

 Review. My aim has been to make a more rap- 

 id-working escape than any now known, and in 

 that I was not fully convinced that I^ had en- 

 tirely succeeded. I have about a dozen pat- 

 terns, all of which work about equally well; but 

 as we want better rather than more escapes, I 

 have refrained from publisliing them, 



I have now got an idea from this paper afifair, 

 that may lead to valuable results; at any rate, 

 I shall give it a fair trial another year. Now, 

 suppose that, instead of using paper and punch- 

 ing X holes through it. we make a substantial 

 escape-board, and cut from two to four square 

 holes through it. Bevel off the uppei- edge, and 

 to this tack or glue little V-shaped pieces of 

 very thin mica, making a sort of hopper, with a 

 hole not quite large enough for a bee to get 

 through in the center. If this is rightly made, 

 the springs will readily allow the bees to pass 

 down, but will not.allow any to return. Anoth- 

 er plan is, to make the holes in the board ob- 

 long, say 1 X 2^4 in., using two pieces of mica, 

 slitted to make four separate springs, each 

 about large enough for a bee. This will allow 

 several bees to pass through at the same time; 

 and springs can be made of any length desired 

 to make them work easily. These springs 

 should be about half a bee-space apart at the 

 ends. Of course, it can be made removable 

 from the boards by making the escapes in small 

 pieces, and fitting in the larger board. To pre- 

 vent any danger of propolizing or gnawing by 

 the bees, a little kerosene can be applied to the 

 mica springs. It will be necessary to have a 

 full bee-space under the escapes when the board 

 is in position, so as to allow the bees to get 

 out. I mal<e no claim to originality, and. of 

 course, have not tried it; but I am quite certain 

 (from numerous tests with other devices) that 

 it will work all right, and it will be quite per- 

 manent too. 



When I started out it was with the intention 

 of describing quite another escape, that I know, 

 from thorough trial, is not excelled by any es- 

 cape ever made, and can be made by almost any 

 one. at a cost of about two cents each. The cut 

 will fairly illustrate the device. To make the 

 escape, take two sticks, U inch square and 8 

 inches long, and on one side tack six little strips 

 of perforated tin, pointing to the middle, at an 



angle of about 45 degrees. Accurate work is 

 required, that they may be equally far apart, so 

 they will be just opposite when in place. Tack 

 a piece of perforated tin on one side, with a 

 half- inch hole in lh<^ center for a bottom, and 

 turn up i.i incli at either end. This piece should 

 1)6 2 X 8'.2 inches. Tack another piece of the 

 same material, or green wire cloth will do. with 

 a ?4-inch hole at both ends for a top piece, and 

 the escape is done. To place it in the escape- 

 board, cut a hole in it 2x8 inches, and tack 

 pieces of tin on the under side, allowing it to 

 project '4 inch. The board cut out can be re- 

 placed when the board is wanted as a " sealed 

 cover."' 



It is best to make one escape first; and when 

 one gets the hang of it, any number can be 



Section N? 2. 



Section. N? 1 



DIBBERN S NEW BEE-ESCAPE. 



made up. The material can be had at almost 

 any tinsliop, and ought not to cost more than 

 two cents for each escape. That price certain- 

 ly ought to bring them within the reach of all, 

 even in a poor season. 



All wire-cloth escapes, such as suggested by 

 Mr. Lairabee, have proven to be unsatisfactory 

 with me. Somehow the wire cloth, being so 

 open, the bees do not seem to realize that they 

 are cut off from the main hive, and usually 

 make but little effort to leave. I have used 

 from two to four escapes in a board at once, and 

 something is gained in time; though, as bees 

 act .so differently, it is not easy to decide just 

 how much. These escapes are not patented. 

 All can make them; the cost is trifling; and if 

 all are not supplied soon with good escapes it 

 will be no fault of mine. C. H. Dibbern. 



Milan, 111. 



MOLDED COMB-GUIDES VERSUS THICK TOP 

 WITH NO COMB-GUIDES. 



TESTIiMONY PRO AND CON. 



Some time ago we asked for reports as to how 

 the new molded thick top-bars were keeping off 

 burr-combs as compared with the old-style 

 thick tops. Our own experience has shown no 

 difference, although we have had one of the 

 heaviest honey-flows in years. But some of our 

 friends seem to have had a different experience. 

 Here is what a few write: 



Friend Root.— Some men are born bee-keep- 

 ers; some achieve bee-keeping, and some have 

 bee-keeping thrust upon them. In the season 

 of 1891, three swarms of bees alighted upon my 

 premises, and I was forced to take care of them 

 as best I could, having never had any work or 

 experience with bees. I hived them all in box 

 hives, and then I got a severe attack of bee- 



