436 



GJ.EANIKGS IN BEE CUlTUllt:. 



Jtjke 



nish it complete for $3.00. On the contrary, 

 a supply-dealeiwill need an iioii machine as 

 above, and we will furnish ir for $10.00. 



With either jf the above niacl lines you 

 will need a common tinner's folder, and, for 

 that matter, a tinner's squaring shears, to 

 make the tin troughs as in Fig. 1 and H. 

 Moreover, it will oe absolutely necessary 

 that the tin be cut up into strips accurately, 

 and that the folds be made perfect. If you 

 purchase a T-tin machine you had better in- 

 struct your tinner to make tlie tin troughs. 

 Home-made machinery, which you might be 

 able to construct for the purpose, would not 

 generally be accurate enough. 



In this connection 1 may mention why we 

 prefer to have our T tins made as in Fig. 3 

 instead of as in Fig. 4. It has been found 

 by experiment, that where the upright of the 

 T is not pressed together tightly, as 'in 

 Fig. 3, it will be a great deal stronger ; con- 

 sequently we make all our T tins like Fig. 3. 



KKETCHMESR'S T-BAIL SECTION-CASE. 



HOW CONSTRUCTED, AND SOME OF THEIR ADVAN- 

 TAGES. 



f5^ HE illustration below will be recognized by 

 §)" many bee-keepers of the West, it being the 

 i T-rail section-case, composed of two. horizon- 

 tal rims, or hoops, arranged for tiw-pound 

 sections, first illustrated in 1880. In order to 

 space the sections correctly, the upright stem of 

 the inverted J. rail is made of wood, while the 

 horizontal part is a strip of tin, fastened to the up- 

 right wood, making a stiff T rail which supports the 

 sections K; separators, /, J, are set between the 

 sections, resting on the T rails; a wedge, O, within 

 the beveled case, clamps all closely, while a Sim- 

 plicitj- half- story covers the exposed part of the 

 sections, with proper bee-spaces above and below, 

 as they may be tiered up and alternated. 



THE T-RAIL- SECTION-CASE. 



About the year 1879 I constructed the same style 

 of section-ease for the one-pound, or ■Hi x 45^4 sec- 

 tions, with the T rails made of two pieces of tin, 

 which has since been improved, and of which I give 

 the following illustrations: 



SECTION-CASE FILI^ED AND CLOSED. 



SECTION-CASE OPEN; PART OE SEPARATOR H BROK- 

 EN A WAV. 



This is composed of two horizontal rims, or hoops, 

 F, F, beveled on 3 sides from the center to the outer 

 edge (the side opposite the wedge being straight); 

 adjustable tin T rails support the sections; any 

 width of the -ti^jsection may be used. Separa- 

 tors, P, may be set between the sections, resting 

 on the T rails; a wide wooden separator, H, closes 

 the ends of each row of sections, which also pre- 

 vents the sections from being attached to the case; 

 and a double-beveled horizontal wedge, O, presses 

 all sections tightly. The pressure, being near the 

 center, holds the sections square, with equal pres- 

 sure at both top and bottom. This pressure leaves 

 no space for deposit of propolis. The inside bevels 

 of the case assist in adjusting the sections; the last 

 sections can be inserted or removed as readily as 

 the first one. The upper rim of the case is beveled 

 exactly like the lower one, and slips readily over 

 the sections, while the upper unbeveled edge holds 

 the sections tight and close, like a hoop on a barrel. 

 These section-cases are invertible, and may be al- 

 ternated and tiered up, with a bee-space at either 

 top or bottom, at pleasure. 



As the case is made of two e<iual hopper-shaped 

 rims, the sections may be removed therefrom either 

 side up. We simply lift off the rim that is upper- 

 most, draw the wedge, and au.y or all sections may 

 be removed in the easiest possible manner; none 

 are cracked or broken, none are attached to the 

 case; and, being wedged, no room is left to propo- 

 lize the edges. 



These eases fit innide of any Simplicily or L. hive 

 now in use, sitting either directly on the top of the 

 brood- frames, with or without a honey-board under 

 it, or can be made to fit even with the outside of 

 any hive. In the construction of this case, as above 

 described, strips of boards full 314 inches wide (usu- 

 ally too narrow for other parts of the hive), are first 

 ripped slanting in two, thus forming the upper and 

 lower part, and beveling them at the same opera- 

 tion. Where the bee-space is desired above the sec- 

 tions (as shown in one of the illustrations), we cut 

 on the inside a saw-kerf 's from the upper edge all 

 around. Into the end pieces we slip strips of tin, 

 and nail through it, securing at once the proper 

 distance. Projectious from the T rails enter into the 

 grooves cut into the sides, and in which they are 

 movable, to either the 4J4 or 6-to-L.-frame sections; 

 and by it, the upper T rails are removed with the up- 

 per rim; or, if loose T rails are desired, a piece of 

 heavy tin, ^4 inch square, is inserted and nailed into 

 this groove, which supports the rails, securing 

 proper distance and uniformity. E. Kretchmeh. 



Coburg, Montgomery Co., la., May 9, 1887. 



Your arrangement is quite ingenious, 

 friend K.; and, as I have said before, if we 

 were really satisfied that it is advisable or 

 desirable to reverse our sections, your plan 



