85(5 



GLEANINGS IN 13 EE CULTURE. 



Dec. L 



P'or cxti'actod honey, and in your locality, 

 you aro doubtless right. Keeogniziug the needs 

 of just such as you, we olTer in our catalogue 

 both the eight and ten frame hives — the latter 

 at a slight additional cost. But the vast 

 ina.iority of apiarists and localities demand the 

 eight-frame size; indeed, J. F. Mclntyre. of 

 \()ui' State, gives some pretty conclusive argu- 

 ments for the smaller hive. See page 674. 



THE CLAKK SMOKER. 



THE SMAI.I. VEP.SUS THE I,AH(iE TFBE: BEST 

 FUEE. 



We have used the Clai-k smokei' for several 

 years entirely. We like it on accoiuit of throw- 

 ing the smok(^ with so much force. It has had 

 two serious objections, however. It would drop 

 creosote, and leak tire. You may say. " Clean 

 your smoker." I did clean mine. In fact. I 

 spent so much time cleaning that I am pretty 

 sure Dr. Miller thought me very fussy, although 

 he was two kind to say so. But still' the black 

 sticky stuff would drop over my clothing and on 

 our nice white sections when we least expected 

 it. and jjioved very annoying indeed. Especial- 

 ly was this true if the smoker was heated very 

 hot. This y(;ar we have used the improved 

 Clark with the large tube, and have not had 

 one particle of trouble with creosote, and you 

 don't know what a comfoi-t it is. unless you 

 have be(>n bothered in the same way. The 

 large tube needs very little cleaning:' still, it 

 is better to clean it occasionally. .A stick push- 

 ed througli the tube has been recommended as 

 a means of cleaning it. Of course, the stick 

 must be green, so that it will bend readily. We 

 dislike it. as. in this way. all the dirt will be 

 sent into the bellows. A heavy wire, curved 

 about the same as the tube, the point flattened 

 and bent, forming a little hook, makes a very 

 good tool to clean it with. 



Another impi-ovement is a piece fastened on 

 the smoker in such a way that the lid slides in- 

 side of it. making it very close and snug, so that 

 no tire can leak' out. Thcn'e was one objection 

 to this, however— there was not euo-.igh draft to 

 keep it burning. To obviate this. Dr. Miller 

 punched several small holes in the lid. not large 

 enough to emit spai-ks. but sutticient to give air 

 enough to keep it l)ui-ning, and it worked like a 

 charm. In using tlu^ Clark smoker without tlu^ 

 improvemcuits. I had a gr(>at deal of trouble 

 about bui'ning my clothes, oftcni large holes 

 being burninl l)efore I discovered it. This sum- 

 mer I have not bui'ued a single dress, and only 

 one aijron, and that was the result of my owii 

 carelessn(!SS, as I had left the lid open. The 

 feeling of security is worth a great deal. Mr. 

 Root has my heartiest thanks for the improved 

 snu:)ker. 



Another point in its favor is the increased 

 durability. ()n(> with the lai'ge tulje will. I 

 think, outlast thi-ee of tlx; otliei's. We have 

 used two throughout the season, and they are 

 as good as ever, with the exception of the one 

 Dr. Miller stepped on. which is slightly demor- 

 alized. 



For fuel we use. mainly, turning-lathe shav- 

 ings made from hard wood. Some time ago 

 Mr. Rof)t sent us two barrels of excelsior, which 

 was very nice indeed. It does not last as long 

 as the turning-lathe shavings, but is very good 

 to light with, as it catches so quickly. The two 

 mixed make a very good fuel. Tlie very best 

 thing to light a smokei- with that we have ever 

 tried is a snuill |jiece of saltpeter wood. On a 

 vei'y windy day the matches will go out almost 



as soon as lighted; l)ut if the least bit of a 

 flame touches the wood it will l)urn, and not 

 die out either. It certainly is a great saving of 

 time and patiimce. We do not like to get along 

 without it. and keep a snuill box of it at each 

 out-apiary. Perhaps some one may like to 

 know how to prepai'e the saltpeter wood. It is 

 very easily done. Take J4 lb. of saltpeter; put 

 it in a jar with a gallon of water. After your 

 salti)eter has dissolved. Ijreak your rotten wood 

 in small pieces, and throw into the jar. Let 

 them soak for a day or two. tlien take out and 

 thoi-oughly dry, and it is ready for use. Try it, 

 and see how you like it. Emma ^Viesox. 



Marengo. 111., Nov., 1890. 



Perhaps I should inti'oduce our friend who 

 writes the above valuable article as Dr. Miller's 

 assistant, his sister-in-law. The saltpeter wood 

 mentioned above was given in our journals a 

 good while ago, but I am afraid only a few of 

 our bee-keepers have been providing themselves 

 with it. It certainly is a very great aid in start- 

 ing a fire quickly. It seems to me, friend Em- 

 ma, it is a little surprising that the smoker you 

 speak of sustained injury because the doctor 

 stepped on it; and, by the way, is that the way 

 he is in the habit of tramping around over 

 things when he gets in a hurry? Your sugges- 

 tion of hard-wood turued shavings for fuel is al- 

 so a good idea. I was intending to write this 

 up after my visit at your place, but I fear I for- 

 got it. 



dn^ QaEg¥i6]\i-B6^, 



With Replies from our best Autiiorities on Bees. 



Question' 173. Tidiing <i series of years, tvlll 

 (tcDlony do better to have Us brood-nest con- 

 tracted' at hdrvest time, or to remain without 

 rontractlon the year round f 



I do not know. 

 Illinois. N. W. C. 



Mrs. L. Haiuhson. 



We never contract the brood-nest at any time. 

 Wisconsin. S. W. E. Fkance. 



With the average bee-keeper, without con- 

 traction. 

 Ohio. N. W. H. R. Boardman. 



INIuch depends upon the bee-keeper. Con- 

 ti'action, when wisely practiced, is best. 

 Michigan. C. A. J. Cook. 



We never contract the brood -nest at harvest 

 time. It does not pay. We contract a little in 

 the fall and in the s])ring. 



Illinois. N. W. Dapant it Son. 



"Do better "at what? If for quantity of 

 honey stored, contract, unless the " harvest 

 time " is protracted. 



Ohio. N. W. A. B. Mason. 



For extracted honey I would say. do not con- 

 tract the brood-nest except, possibly, for 30 days 

 in the last part of the 7uain honey-flow. 



California. S. ' R. Wiekin. 



I rarely contract the brood-nest, except in 

 case of weak colonies in spring, and when hiv- 

 ing a new swarm. 



New York. C. G. M. Dooeittee. 



