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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Dec. 15. 



A careful examination shows that the comb 

 was cast from a mold. This would preclude 

 the possibility of making the article any light- 

 er; for. even as heavy and clumsy as it is, it is 

 very fragile. Cast wax is much more brittle 

 than the drawn. If, then, the Schulz comb 

 were made lighter it would not stand transpor- 

 tation. From a commercial and practical 

 standpoint, both the method of making and 

 the product itself must be regarded as a fail- 

 ure. 



But from a scientific standpoint this comb is 

 very interesting, because we are told it is ac- 

 cepted by the bees. It demonstrates that they 

 are not particular how thick the cell-walls are. 

 All that they require is that the cells them- 

 selves shall be large enough to accommodate 

 the rearing of brood. In fact, we are told that 

 wooden comb— that is, a board perforated with 

 holes of the right size, has been used success- 

 fully by Mr. Aspinwall, of Michigan, in the 

 rearing of brood. 



In earlier times Capt. Iletherington, I believe, 

 made a metallic wax-covered comb. This was 

 also accepted by the bees for purposes of brood - 

 rearing. Ail this goes to show that bees will 

 accept almost any thing, providing that the 

 cells are of the right size; but if we are ever to 

 have an artificial comb that will compete with 

 foundation, it must be sold at a price not very 

 much in excess of that article, per square foot. 



was spent in liis favorite study, that of the nature 

 and life-habits of insects. The region in which he 

 lived was especially favorable to such investiga- 

 tion, and so the successes of his researches led him 

 to further study. He also, at this time, did consid- 

 erable taxidermy work, thertby learning' a great 

 deal about birds and other animals. 



In the summer of 1878 Mr. Bruner had the good 

 fortune to accompany a friend and his two sons on 

 a trip to Idaho— a trip taken for the especial pur- 

 pose of studying nature While in Utah he became 

 acquainted with a member of the U. S. Entomolog'i- 

 cal Commission. Two years later, through this 

 friendship, he was made entomological assistant. 

 His residence was now at Washington, D. C. In the 

 course of two of three years he was given charge of 

 the grasshopper or destructive-locust investigation 

 for the entire United States. While in this work 

 Mr. Bruner made several extended trips into British 

 America, through various parts of the Rocky 

 Mountain region, in the Southwest, and other 

 places. He took a trip to Mexico, also, for the ex- 

 press purpose of studying insects destructive to the 

 orange industry, and was successful in learning the 

 life-histories of several important species. 



LAWRENCE BRUNER. 



I HAVE before spoken of the lecture delivered 

 by Prof. Lawrence Bruner before the North 

 American convention at Lincoln, on the subject 

 of "Wild Bees of Nebraska." I believe it is safe 

 to say that bee-keepers never listened to a more 

 interesting and scientific talk on the subject 

 of bees. Prof. Bruner is one of the rising young 

 men of the country, and one who is both able 

 and willing to give bee-keepers material assist- 

 ance in his department. Feeling that our read- 

 ers ought to be a little better acquainted with 

 him, I take pleasure in giving the following 

 biographical sketch which I have secured. — 



Lawrence Bruner, the subject of this sketch, was 

 born in Catasauqua, Pa., March 2, 1856. In May of 

 the same year his parents came west, and settled in 

 Omaha. Later they went on a farm, where they 

 remained till 1870, when they moved to West Point, 

 Nebraska. 



As a small boy on the farm, Mr. Bruner made the 

 acquaintance of birds, insects, and plants, in all of 

 which he took a great and peculiar interest. From 

 early childhood he collected all sorts of natural- 

 history specimens, but more especially insects. 

 However, it was not until the age of fifteen that he 

 began his systematic collection of the several orders 

 of Insects. 



He entered the University of Nebraska when it 

 first opened, in the fall of 1871. On account of ill 

 health he was not able to continue his studies till 

 his graduation. However, his spare time at home 



PROF. LAWRENCE BRUNER. 



In April, 1888, Mr. Bruner was called to the Uni- 

 versity of Nebraska as experiment-station entomol- 

 ogist, and instructor in entomology. He retained 

 at the same time, however, his connection with the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture as field agent. 



During all this time Mr. Bruner had continued his 

 study and collection of birds and insects. His pri- 

 vate collection of North American orthoptera is 

 probably the largest extant, r. 



Mr. Bruner is, at present, professor of entomology, 

 ornithology, and taxidermy, in the University of 

 Nebraska; and under the university-extension work 

 he delivers lectures throughout the State, from time 

 to time, on practical entomology. 



Prof. Bruner has written some careful and help- 

 fuljworks on his particular subject: Birds of Ne- 

 braska; Tree-claim Insects; Insect Enemies ofrin- 

 dianCorn; Insect Enemies of the Grapevine; Intro- 

 ductionlto the study of Entomology.C Besides these 

 papers he hasjcontributed various articles to scien- 

 tific journals and societies. 



