18S0 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



313 



melted wax just goes out "ker-squash" all 

 around the sides of the plates. Hold the 

 plates tight together with your fingers, and 

 immerse the whole in the tub of cold water. 

 Open it, and there is your sheet of dipped 

 fdn. There is a tough edge of plain wax 

 around the sides, that must he trimmed off 

 as usual. When you first start, it may he 

 well to use a little soap, or soap bark, but 

 very soon the clean water is all that is need- 

 ed. We started the machine after dark one 

 evening, and, at first trial, two men dipped 

 15 sheets in 15 minutes. At the next trial, 

 they clipped 18 sheets in 15 minutes. Two 

 pairs of plates were used ; one dipped Dun- 

 ham fdn., and the other, our own. They 

 averaged about <> sheets to the pound. At 

 this rate, two men would make from 100, to 

 120 lbs. of fdn. in a day. The next morning, 

 the girls in the wax room heard the result of 

 our experiments, and two of them made 18 

 sheets of our fdn., trimmed and all, in seven 

 minutes, with the rolls. The same two af- 

 terwards rolled and trimmed 210 lbs. of fdn. 

 in a day. 



Faris machine is too heavy for the women 

 and children that we employ, and it would 

 be much more expensive for us to make fdn. 

 in this way, at present. Another objection, 

 and it is the most fatal one to the new pro- 

 cess, is that during the half hour we worked, 

 one plate gave way, it is thought, through 

 the combined effects of the heat and water. 

 Last of all, the machine, as we used it, spat- 

 tered wax around the room ; I had just 

 come from the saw room, with my clothes 

 pretty well covered with saw dust, and after 

 friend Faris spattered melted wax over me 

 (just little drops) I presented rather a sorry 

 spectacle, I fear. Of course, this can be got 

 along with. The sides of the box can be 

 made higher; but still I fear it will be a 

 spattering job. I think something may be 

 added to the plaster, that will make the 

 plates more durable, but even if a plate does 

 fail, once in a while, it is but a few minutes 

 work to fill them again. The fdn. is soft 

 and porous, and is certainly ahead of any 

 made by rolls. 



I paid friend F. $143.00 for coming up 

 here, and showing me how he does it, and I 

 think he has fully earned it. lie has shown 

 us how fdn. can be made, in full sheets, and 

 nice ones, without any expensive machinery. 

 I prefer, under the circumstances, not to 

 make the plates for sale at present, but you 

 can order them from John Faris, Chilhow- 

 ie, Smith Co., Va., or you can easily make 

 the whole apparatus yourself. It will be im- 

 proved no doubt, right along, and I should 

 not be surprised at all, if rolls should be en- 

 tirely laid aside by another season. As soon 

 as I can find a durable apparatus, that will 

 work a little cleaner, I should be glad to of- 

 fer them for sale. 



The following is just at hand from a neigh- 

 bor of friend Faris: 



Since friend Faris' return, I have purchased one 

 of his dipping comb foundation machines. This 

 morning I tested the machine by making 25 sheets, 

 Langstroth, or Simplicity, size. The working of the 

 machine I consider perfect in the qual/Uy of i he fdn. 

 it makes. The fdn. is beautiful, ami there is no 

 doubt but that the machine is a grand success. Sim- 



plicity of construction, ease in operation, and cheap- 

 ness in price, commend it to every keeper of bees. 



The sheets can be made light or heayy as the opera- 

 tor of the machine may desire. 



1 think the bee-keepers of our land may well con- 

 gratulate friend F. on his success in getting up a 

 machine that is so useful, and is doubtless destined 

 to take the place of all rolls and presses now in 

 vogue. A. F. Bonham. 



Seven Miles Ford, Smyth Co., Va., June 19, 1880. 



DEPOSITORY OF 



tglashd %offl§ 9 



Or Letters from Those Who Have Made 

 Bee Culture a Failure. 



WHITE CLOVER NOT YIELDING HONEY. 



HITE clover has come, and nearly gone, and 

 not one pound of honey (not even extract- 

 ed) yet. We have only 50 colonies left out 

 of 128 last fall, and not more than 35 of them are 

 strong enough to go into the boxes. Don't you 

 think this looks a little like blasted hopes? I think 

 it looks like blasted bees to me. We have not had a 

 swarm yet, but basswood is budding nicely, and I 

 hope to produce some honey from it, and be able to 

 give you a better report next month. 



Harry Blackburn. 

 Webberville, Mich., June 19, 1880. 



Apparently the season has been very favorable 

 for the bees. They wintered splendidly, and colo- 

 nies were strong in the spring. Fruit bloom was 

 quite plentiful but rains prevented the bees from 

 gathering all of the honey. Since that time there 

 has been plenty of rain, but not enough to injure 

 anything. White clover is strong and in full bloom ; 

 still the bees are in a starving condition. I have not 

 heard of a swarm in the country. Won't some one 

 tell us why this "is thusly?" E. A. Gastman. 



Decatur, 111., June 19, 1880. 



This is "thusly," friend G., I presume, be- 

 cause white clover, like most other plants, 

 at times fails to secrete honey. Whenever 

 you find the tubes of the red clover pretty 

 full of nectar, you will usually find honey 

 coming in. I am inclined to think that as 

 much honey is obtained from red clover here, 

 as from white. Be of good cheer, my 

 friends, feed, if need be, though right in 

 June ; and before you know it, honey will 

 come with a rush that may find you unable 

 to make room for it all. 



This department was suggested by one of the 

 clerks, as an opposition to the "Growlery." I think 

 I shall venture to give names in full here. 



fHE queen came to-day, safe and sound. I must 

 say it is a pleasure to deal with you. I know 

 it was not the way to do business to send the 

 order without cash, but I was not sure that you 

 could furnish her, or I would gladly have sent the 

 money at tirst. I am glad you have not lost faith in 

 poor humanity, after being abused so much by 

 some of its members. Please remember me among 

 so many "rain-drops." Many thanks for your kind- 

 ness. L. E. Harris. 

 Franklin Depot, Dal. Co., N. Y., June 9, 1880. 



