108 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE. 



Mar. 



be removable, because we wish to see in the 

 cage, and be sine the queen is there all right, 

 before attempting to introduce her, and we 

 also want only the one thin wire cloth inter- 

 vening between her and the bees, for them 

 to get acquainted through. As this cap will 

 not vary much in price from the value of the 

 vial, we will keep the cages at the old price. 



Just after the above was written, a cage 

 came by mail, that uwes but one piece of 

 wire cloth, and yet is a more substantial 

 cage, and almost ensures ventilation. The 

 cut and our friend's description make it all 

 plain. 



JOS. M. BROOKS' MAILING CAGE. 



I send you, by to-day's mail, a safety, queen, ship- 

 ping cage, the advantages of which, 1 think, are as 

 follows: 



1st. The bees can have plenty of air at all times, 

 regardless of the position of the cage. Top, ends, or 

 sides down, there will always be 3 openings left for 

 air. 



2d. The perforated tin has 4 tacks to make it se- 

 cure. 



3d. The wood lid, or cover, can be seourely nailed 

 down with brads, or screws can be used. 



4th. The cover prevents any possibility of the 

 bees stinging the postmaster or his clerks. 



In caging queens, I never catch them, but place 

 the cage close to them, and, with a broad feather, 

 crowd them, with a few bees, down into the cage, 

 and drop the perforated tin on the feather, then 

 pull the feather from under it, gently letting the tin 

 drop into its place, when it is all ready to be tacked 

 down, and the wood cover, with its directions, nailed 

 or screwed on. I think well of this cage, but want 

 you to examine it carefully and say just what you 

 think of it. It is very strong and compact, and not 

 apt to be damaged with the rough handling of the 

 mail bags. Our postmaster here is one of the most 

 particular men you could find. He says that he don't 

 think a better cage for the purpose could be used, 

 which I am pleased to hear, I assure you. 



I would like to do all my shipping this season in 

 this cage, and, if you think well enough of it to 

 manufacture it, you will get my orders, at least. 



The boring is done with an extension center bit; 

 but I know you are Yankee enough to get them up 

 in good shape. 



Whatever cages are used, I do hope that the fra- 

 ternity will be careful, and do nothing that will 

 Oftuse queens to be ruled out again. 



Cbhrmtrasf Ind., FeU 10, '80. J. M. Brooks. 



Well, just as soon as Mr. Gray had looked 

 the cage over, and decided that friend B. 

 was away ahead of us on his plan, we 

 thought of pushing this cover in grooves 

 just as we do the slide in the side for putting 

 in the bees, and thus save the necessity of 

 using any tacks at all. Also, it is often 

 quite important to be able to see the queen, 

 and it is out of the question to see her 

 through perforated tin; therefore we will 

 use a piece of wire cloth over the bees, and 

 then all you have to do to get a peep at the 

 queen is to move back the slide, and you 

 have the same cage for introducing, etc., 

 that we have been using all along. If the 

 bottom of the cage is covered with soft, 

 white candy, this will make a nice back- 

 ground on which to get a fair view of her 

 majesty quickly, that we may be sure she is 

 there. I hope to be able to furnish these 

 cages, candy and all, for 5c each, or $4.00 per 

 hundred. We will try to get an engraving 

 ready for next month. 



S. T. Pettit, of Belmont, Canada, makes a most 

 vehement protest against the dissemination of blue 

 thistle. He is not acquainted with it, but quotes 

 from a letter from Clark Simpson, Flushing, Mich. 

 If this is correct, it seems to be about as bad as its 

 near relative, the Canada thistle. In view of this, I 

 would advise that no plants or seed be offered for 

 sale, until we hear farther about it. Friend S. says, 

 on page 58, it dies, root and all, at first frost; if this 

 is so, it certainly can not be anything like the Cana- 

 da thistle in regard to extermination. 



PRICK OF QUEENS FOR THIS MONTH. 



I presume many think our prices very high now, 

 and, to be frank, I think so too; but I would really 

 prefer not to sell them to the great detriment of my 

 apiary, as I have done seasons heretofore. If others 

 are willing to spare theirs, just now, at a critical 

 time for brood rearing, I shall be glad to have them 

 supply the demand. Will those who have queens to 

 spare during the month of April please let it be 

 known, with their prices, in our next number. Here- 

 tofore, the demand for early queens has been far be- 

 yond the supply. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOKERS. 



Bingham sends us a very neatly made smoker in- 

 deed, containing his new tin guard to prevent burn- 

 ing the operator's fingers. While this is excellent 

 for the purpose, I think it too much machinery, and 

 that it will soon get bunged up. However, Bingham 

 may know best, for he has certainly so far succeed- 

 ed In giving the public a smoker of which there is 

 very little complaint. In answer to my note last 

 month, no complaint has come, except the one I 

 give in this number. 



L. C. Hoot also sends vis a smoker, with an improve- 

 ment that is a novelty at least. It is both a direct 

 draft and cold blast, at pleasure. By simply mov- 

 ing a button, presto ! you have one or the other at 

 will. If your wood is green and damp, just give it a 

 direct draft, and make it burn. If it is dry, and like 

 to burn out too fast, use the cold blast and save 

 your fuel, and have all the rest of the advantages. 

 I have a little fear here, too, that it will prove al- 

 most too much machinery, but I may be wrong, and 

 he right. His device for getting a cold blast is not 

 new, for we have a model of the same In our office. 

 Bent us by a friend in Mlteni&ati, a ytar agw or morfe. 



