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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



May 1. 



Trade Notes. 



TAYLOR'S COMB-I.EVELKR; A MISCONCEPTION 

 COKHKCTKD. 



Since our article uiid(>r lliis iuuxcling, in cur 

 last Issue, we have receiv(^d the following from 

 Mr. Taylor, which will explain itself: 



Fiie.ud Brjof :— In speaking- of the use of the handy 

 comb-leveler, in April 15th Gleanings, you say: 



AUliouKh we have never tvie.l it. we pre-iume it i'^ a tact tliat 

 the bees 'will build out the-^e combs, i-ednci'il ti) foundation 

 again. as rapidlv and pei-fectly as they l.uild from regular 

 found.at on; and probably no one could drlecr, alter the 

 combs were finished and capped over, those tliU were built 

 from leveled-down combs and those from foundation. 



This leaves the impression that all th:it is grained 

 by the use of the leveler is the saving- of the foun 

 dation originally used in them. Now. I confess to 

 l)eing greatly surprised at this explanation. Why, 

 there is no more reason for reducing the comlis to 

 foundation again in sections than there would be to 

 reduce e.xtracting combs to the original foundation 

 after each extracting. Already I luive received 

 inquiries as to whether the cells could not " be left 

 deeper." Mr. Root, these sections of empty combs, 

 if used riglitly, are nearly equal in value to sealed 

 combs of dark lioney, at least; and I lielieve sec- 

 tions of dark honey can be extracted, and the honey 

 sold as extracted, or used for feeding; and the 

 empty leveled combs kept over to be quickly filled 

 again with white honey with greater profit. Oft- 

 times bee-keepers have many sections filled with 

 honey-dew that is not fit for table use. Extract the 

 honey from them and use it for spring feeding, and 

 you can have the empty comlis filled with clover or 

 bassswood lioney, even in a short honey-flow; and 

 in half the time that the same work would be done 

 on new foundation. 



Last year I used about 2000 such combs. They 

 were lii 24 section cases; 12 empty combs, and 12 

 sections filled with new foundntion. The honey- 

 flow, both clover and bas.swood, was short and 

 meager; yet the combs were nearly all filled and 

 sealed, while there was not a single section of foun- 

 dation finished fit for market, right in the same 

 cases. Most of them were nearly filled with comb 

 and honey, but not sealed. I extracted them and 

 sold the honey for 124 cts. per lb. T now have the 

 empty leveled combs ready for the white-honey 

 flow of 1893. and I know I have in them property of 

 great value. 



Now, T should like the readers of Gleanings to 

 hear this explanation, as I see by two letteis received 

 to day tliat bee-keepers are being- misled by the idea 

 that the combs are reduced to the original founda- 

 tion, whereas they should be left as nearly full 

 depth as possible, and have the surfaces level and 

 of equal depth. B. Taylor. 



Forestville, Minn., April 24. 



Wc are very glad to be corrected. In our 

 hurry we failed to catch on to the real purpose 

 of the comb-leveler, and we trust the above 

 will make it all plain now. Yes. indeed, the 

 instrument would have a nuich more valuable 

 use in reducing cells to as deep a level as possi- 

 ble than reducing them to the depth of ordi- 

 nary foundation. 



FOUR AND SIX FRAME COWAN EXTRACTORS. 



Our four and six frame Cowans, while similar 

 in principle to the two-frame machine, differ in 

 having a center-shaft and in having each 

 basket geared with a chain, so that the reversal 

 of one basket reverses them all simultaneously. 

 Indeed, it is not even necessary to stop the ex- 

 tractor. All that is required is. to slow up the 

 motion a little, so that the hand can catch one 

 of the baskets, and retard its outer edge while 

 the reel revolves. The inner edge of the basket 

 being thrown past the center, the centrifugal 

 force will carry it the rest of the way. and the 

 reversal of all the baskets is accomplished much 

 more expeditiously and easily than with the so- 

 called automatic reversing machines. The 

 baskets are thoroughly braced, and there is not 

 the slightest danger of heavy combs bulging 



them, and they are hinged in such a way as not 

 to interfere with each other, nor to fly off the 

 hinges entirely, as is the case with some re- 

 versibles. There are no chains — no hitching 

 nor catching of any kind, for the reversal of 

 motion is positive. 



INSIDE VIEW ONLY. 



The cross-arms of the reel are made of 

 wrought iron, cast into a solid hub. and there is 

 no possibility whatever of their getting loose. 

 Of all things that areannoying. it is to have ex- 

 tractors breakdown or give out, right in the 

 height of the honey season. 



Besides all the other features of the Cowan, 

 the crank can always be run one way. Another 

 feature is. they do not throw honey over the 

 sides. 



Special Notices. 



WHOLESALE PRICES TO DEALERS. 



We have sent out, during the past week, whole- 

 sale price lists to dealers who advertise and sell any 

 thing that we manufacture or job. If any who are 

 entitled to these lists have been missed in the dis- 

 tribution, we should be pleased to hear from them. 



MAY EDITION OF OUR CATALOGUE. 



We have finally completed the resetting and elec- 

 trotyping of our catalogue, and are now printuig it 

 entirely from plates, and mailing it as rapidly as 

 possible to our old customers and those who apply. 

 We have made it of especial value to beginners by 

 incorporating directions, and answering questions 

 most frequently asked. 



We have made a slight reduction in the prices of 

 24 and 48 lb. shipping-cases. The 24-lb. single or 

 double tier are $10.00 per 100 in the flat; and the 48- 

 Ib.. $12.00 per 100; in lots of 10. 2c each extra. The 

 12-lb. 3-row case is 80c for 10, though printed in error 

 40c. 



SAFETY BICYCLES. 



A month ago we called attention to the Lovell 

 Diamond Safety bicycle, agreeing- to send catalogue 

 with special price on application. We were daily 

 expecting our supply of catalogues then, and we 

 regret to say our expec-tations have not yet been 

 realized. The manufacturers claim to have sent us 

 a supply, and we shall, no doubt, receive them 

 shortly." As soon as they come we will break the 

 spell with those who are patiently waiting, and any 

 others who have not yet applied, but are interested 

 enough to do so. 



If any prefer the Victor or Columbia, the two 

 leading wheels, at $150, we can supply either, but 



