1901 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CUI^TURE. 



283 



that are iiiibeJded in the top of the steam- 

 exlraciors. It is thus possible to make them 

 steam light at the top. 



When the shimgum has been "cooked" 

 enough, the free wax runs off and out of the 

 spout, then pressure (not before) is applied, 

 squeezing the melted wax out of the slumgum 

 like water out of a sponge. 



It will be noticed that, after the wax has 

 been put under pressure, this slumgum must 

 be emptied from the basket. In the mean 

 time the basket cools from being opened, be- 

 cause it must be dumped, and then be refilled 

 with old cjmbs. Mr. Fer- 

 ris overcomes this trouble 

 by having extra baskets, 

 of just about the right size 

 and shape to take in Lang- 

 stroth c mibs ; and when 

 one set of baskets or one 

 basket, we will say, has 

 had the squeeze applied, 

 it is quickly lifted out of 

 the steamer and another 

 one put in its place, and 

 the " cooking " goes mer- 

 rily on. In the mean time 

 the basket removed is 

 dumped, filled with combs, 

 and stands ready to take 

 the place of the next bas- 

 ket that is ready to be 

 dumped. 



As to which is the bet- 

 ter principle, the Hatch- 

 Gemmill method or that 

 employed by these others 

 as illustrated, using a 

 screw in connection with 

 the steam wax extractor, 

 I can not say from expe- 

 rience ; but I have illus- 

 trated the various ma- 

 chines so that one can 

 use whichever device he 

 prefers. But I am sure of 

 this much : That it pays, 

 and pays well, to put all 

 the slumgum from old combs in a press of 

 some kind before throwing it away. A good 

 press ought to pay for itself in one day's time ; 

 yes, and I should not be surprised if it would 

 do so in one hour's time. I do not know of 

 any better way for a bee-keeper to make 

 good wages than for him to make a wax-press 

 or buy one. See editorials, elsewhere. — Ed.] 



Somerford to make a trip to his place, which 

 is near El Caimito, about thirty-five miles on 

 the stone road southwest of Havana. I then 

 went down to the warehouse with Mr. Bridat, 

 and saw some of the honey he had taken in re- 

 cently, about 3^6,000 lbs. This was put up in 

 tierces, being about 100 gallons each. You 

 may imagine that it requires a very substan- 

 tial barrel to hold such a weight of honey. 

 In one corner of the room was a pile of bees- 

 wax, and, on inquiry, Mr. Bridat replied that 

 there was about $10 000 worth. The sight of 

 the contents of this warehouse gave me my 



GLIMPSES OF CUBA AND 

 ING. 



CUBAN BEE KEEP- 



BY A. L. BOYDEN. 



On the afternoon of Dec. 26, in company 

 with Mr. Craycraft, we called at the office of 

 Bridat, Mont, Ros & Co., and fortunately 

 found Mr. Bridat engaged in conversation 

 with one of our American bee-keepers, W. W. 

 Somerford, whose name is familiar to our read- 

 ers. I had never met either of these gentle- 

 men before, but had soon arranged with Mr. 



BELtFLOWER, OR AGUINAI,DO. 



first real idea of the extent of Cuban bee-keep- 

 ing. 



The following day I spent in Havana in 

 company with Messrs. Craycraft, de Beche, 

 and Penfield, the latter gentleman having an 

 apiary at Sin Nicholas, where he has produced 

 some very fine comb honey, which 1 shall al- 

 lude to in a later article. 



The morning of Dec. 28 found me on my way 

 to Caimito. I took the train as far as Mariano, 

 thence by stage to Somerford's. I found Mr. 

 S. busily engaged putting up a tent in which 

 to extract honey. On my arrival he insisted 

 upon dropping his work, and we at once went 

 to the house to talk as only bee-keepers can. 

 Toward evening we started out on our wheels 

 doA^n the stone road to Punta Brava to visit 

 the Du Sac apiary, managed by Harry Osborn, 

 son of the late A. W. Osborn. On our way 

 down there we met a younger brother of W. 

 W , Mr. Frank Somerford, and, after a short 

 consultation, he agreed to remain over night 

 and go with us out to the apiary of Harry 



