1901 



GLEANINGS IN BEK CULTURE. 



437 



once. In our next issue Swarthmore will 

 describe a new method of making queen- 

 cups that I believe is original with him ; also 

 several other valuable kinks that will come 

 in very good play just now. — Ed.] 



"RAMBLE 185. 



Peculiarities of Central California; Extracting in 



the State; Strainers vs. Settling-tanks; 



Importance of Clear Honey. 



BY RAMBI.ER. 



" See here, Rambler, what have you stuck 

 this thermometer up here under the shed for ? ' ' 



"That's a funny question, Mr. McCubbin. 

 I wonder if you do not know the use of a 

 thermometer? Don-cher know that is to en- 

 able me to keep a record of the heat ? You 



ly so hot, shade-boards are used quite freely. 

 Many are successful without them, and I am 

 coming to the conclusion that the providing 

 of shade-boards anywhere in California is a 

 useless expense. Then you have such little 

 entrances to the hives, barely three inches in 

 length. I should think there would be a con- 

 gestion of both bees and heat." 



" You see. Rambler, that's where my open- 

 work covers and sack honey-board helps the 

 bees to keep the hive cool — plenty of ventila- 

 tion, and no melting." 



"Now, then, Mr. McCubbin, as a precau- 

 tion to myself, as well as comfort, and to save 

 labor, I suppose you would have no objection 

 to my erecting a sort of pavilion extracting- 

 house under the peach-trees, and right along- 

 side the bee-hives?" 



"Not the least, Mr. Rambler." 



And it was so accomplished. The pavilion 

 was made as shown in the half-tone — a light 



rambler's cool retreat among the bees and peaches ; 



background. 



extracting-house in the 



said the other day that the temperature some- 

 times climbed up to 120. Now, I do not wish 

 to be so foolish as to work under such a tem- 

 perature ; then if it does get up to 120, I want 

 something reliable to brag about." 



" Rambler, that is wrong ; you should never 

 mention the heated condition of this valley. 

 Why, if you were in the real-estate business, 

 as I am, you'd never catch the Eastern buy- 

 er. Ignore the heat. Rambler ; ignore it, and 

 throw that thermometer into the ditch." 



" No, sir ; I will tie to that thermometer, 

 and I will report every hot day, and the effect 

 upon the bees ; but it seems strange to me 

 that no shade-boards are in use in this coun- 

 try. Down south, where we have it not near- 



framework, 8 feet square, 6>^ in height. The 

 lower half of the frame was covered with 

 sacking, the upper half on three sides with 

 wire cloth. This gave free access to any com- 

 fortable wind that might be stirring. The top 

 was also covered with sacking ; and, to aid 

 the shade of the peach-tree, leafy boughs from 

 other peach-trees were piled on, making a de- 

 lightful, shady, and really comfortable place 

 to manipulate the extractor. 



I hope the half-tone will bring out those 

 luscious peaches that were on the tree ; but, 

 mind you, they were not long there after they 

 became luscious ; and, by the way, there are 

 many acres of peach-trees within 200 rods of 

 this apiary, and not a complaint about the 



