262 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. 1. 



east from home I obtained a fair crop of bass- 

 wood honey, as frosts were not so severe there. 

 From those farthest northwest we extracted 

 about five tons of very white honey during thp 

 autumn months. 



I will send you a sample of this lot. It was 

 all obtained from the remnant of the noted 

 Grimm apiaries, which I purchased after 

 the death of Christopher Grimm, and shipped a 

 carload to the northern part of the State in the 

 care of Herbert Clute. 



As some may infer that I have honey to sell, 

 I will say that I have sold all of my crop, and 

 also bought and sold about 2.5 tons from other 

 bee-keepers. 



Mauston, Wis., Feb. 19. 



[Mr. McNay is one of the extensive bee-keep- 

 ers of Wisconsin; therefore when his improved 

 drone-trap came to hand I examined it with 

 more than ordinary interest, knowing that he 

 would not put any thing forth that would not 

 have real practical merit. Not having tried it, 

 but having tried the ordinary drone-traps, I 

 am pretty well assured that he has made a de- 

 cided improvement. To attach the ordinary 

 drone-guard to an entrance just about the time 

 when swarms may be expected, and the bees are 

 well a-work in the field, disconcerts them con- 

 siderably for about a day at least. The incom- 

 ing workers will hover about the entrance for 

 some time before they essay to go through. Of 

 course, the drone-guards can be left on the year 

 through, and avoid all this strangeness: but 

 that compels the workers to pass through holes 

 constantly when there is no need of it, just big 

 enough for them to go through. Mr. McNay 

 obviates this by drawing the slide B, allowing 

 the bees to pass into the entrance at C freely. 

 As swarming comes on, all that is necessary is 

 to push in the slide, and the appearance of 

 things is changed so little that the workers will 

 pass into the hive as usual, without appearing 

 to be disconcerted. — Ed.] 



THE MAGIC SECTION-PRESS. 



By James Cot^mac. 



The magic section-press and foundation- 

 fastener, as represented in the cut, is improved 

 by having a handle attached to the lower 

 margin of the door, similar to a hand-stamp, 

 that the palm of the hand is placed on when 

 closing the door. It is the simplest and most 

 effective, fastest, strongest, and easiest operat- 

 ed, of any combined device on the market. It 

 can't get out of order unless broken, as all of 

 the parts are formed of malleable iron and 

 steel; lamp-chimney of tin, with isinglass in 

 opening to regulate the blaze. The lamp is 

 brass; size of press, 7Kx8X inches. 



To operate you lay the section on the door, 

 as shown in the etching, with your left-hand 

 palm on the handle (not shown); close the 

 door, which swings from the top; allow the 

 starter, which you pick up with the right hand 

 and place on the tablet on the door, to slide 

 down and touch the metal tongue which passes 

 through a slot in the door, and is warmed by 



the lamp. This contact melts the wax instant- 

 ly. Allow the door to swing back a trifle. The 

 starter is brought in contact with the section; 

 the swing of the door wipes the melted wax 

 from the metal plate and fastens the starter or 

 full sheets secure. The machine is fastened to 

 a table-leaf or board by two metal clamps at- 

 tached to the back of the box. It is quite an 

 easy task to close and fasten foundation in from 

 three to four thousand sections per day. 



The lever that closes the section is hinged 

 with a ball socket provided with rod and lever 

 on the lower end beneath the bottom, by which 

 you regulate the opening of the door. As 

 soon as the work on the section is complete, the 

 door of its own accord returns to the position 

 as shown in cut, ready. 



Des Moines, la. 



[We have tried one of these devices, and find 

 that they will fold sections and put in founda- 

 tion; but our people can not make it work as 

 well and nicely as the two separate machines 

 we are using and advertising. — Ed.] 



B Y G.M.DOO LITTLE.BORODINO.N.Y 



IIIIIIIIIIIIIMHIIIM 



QUEENS MATING. 



Question. — Do queens of second swarms 

 " mate " before or after they lead out a swarm ? 

 I see one of our "bee-lights " says that "per- 

 haps they may mate before going out with the 

 swarm." 



Answer.— If any bee-keeper of any promi- 

 nence puts forth the claim that any queen 

 leading out any after-swarm may mate the 

 drone, or become fertile, before she so leads the 

 swarms, it is something I should not expect, 



