Vol. XVIT. 



OCT. 1, 1889. 



No. 19. 



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OUT-APIARIES, NO XVI. 



TOOLS FOR OUT-APIARIES, AND WHEIIE TO KEEP 

 THEM. 



HATEVER tools you use in the home 

 apiary, you are likely to need the same in 

 each out-apiary. If a different person is 

 in charge of each apiary, then each one 

 must have his own set of tools; and even 

 if the same force go in succession from one apiary 

 to another, it may be the most convenient to have 

 a separate outfit kept at each place. HI do not think 

 just now of any thing in the line of tools needed 

 for an out-apiary, different from those needed at 



1 • 



ROBBER-CLOTH. 



home unless it be a robber-cloth. I'should not like 

 to bo without one of these in the home apiary, but 

 they are specially valuable in out-apiaries where, 

 sometimes, notwithstanding robbers are trouble- 

 some, your plans are such that you want to force 

 through a certain amount of work. By having two 

 or three robber-cloths I have sometimes been able 



to go on with my work when, without them, 1 

 should have been obliged to desist. I'll tell you 

 how to make one. Take about a square yard of 

 stout sheeting or cotton cloth— if your hives are 

 small, less will do. Lay one of the cut edges on a 

 piece of lath, about the length of your hive; lay a 

 similar piece of lath on top of it, and driveSwire 

 nails through both, at a distance of perhaps three 

 inches apart. Let the nails be long enough tojreach 

 through and clinch them. Then treat the opposite 

 edge the same way, and your robber-cloth'is com- 

 plete. 



This robber-cloth is exceedingly convenient to 

 throw quickly over any hive or super that you want 

 to cover up temporarily. You can grasp the lath at 

 one side with one hand, and, with a single fling, 

 throw it over a hive and it is instantly bee-tight. 

 It doesn't kill kees if any happen to get under it. 

 If you have one hand occupied with something else, 

 you can quickly uncover and cover with the other. 

 I have sometimes worked with a colony when rob- 

 bers were so 'bad' they would pounce into every 

 opening; but a robber cloth covering the frames at 

 each side allowed me to have an opening at the 

 frame I wished.-to-.take out. As a general rule, of 

 course I would try to manage not to work at bees 

 at such times. 



But to return. It would be very convenient, if 

 you go about from one apiary to another, to have a 

 little tool-house at each. lam not sure, however, 

 that it would pay. A hive or box covered over with 

 a water-tight cover (I use a tin hive-cover) answers 

 very well. I would have one or more of these at 

 each apiary at any case, for there are some things 

 you always want to be sure of having on hand, as 

 smokfr fuel. Matches should also be kept under 

 cover in such a place, in a tin box. A baking-pow- 

 der box does well. Bee-hats, smokers— in fact, a 

 -full set of every thing, may be kept in the same 

 way. 



