62 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Fig. 4. — An automatic screwdriver for putting in 

 corners of the case. 



permanent bottom, such as the one described 

 by A. C. Ames, page 889, Nov. 15, is a 

 more convenient arrangement provided the 

 same location will be used continuously year 

 after year. 



In Fig. 2 two of the sides are held in 

 position temporarily to show how they 

 telescope down over the edge of the floor. 



In Fig. 3 some packing has been strewn 

 over the tioor between the supporting cleats 

 and the four hives placed in position. We 

 used baled shavings for packing, not be- 

 cause we consider shavings better than 

 leaves as recommended by Mr. Holtermann, 

 but because they were more convenient. 

 The bale of shavings is shown just back of 

 the four hives in the picture. 



It is something of a problem to move 

 twenty-five or fifty of 

 these large cases after 

 they ai'e nailed up. We 

 nailed up the sides, 

 therefore, arranging 

 the cleats so that every 

 thing would fit togeth- 

 er properly, and then 

 moved the whole outfit 

 in the flat to the 

 Blakeslee yard, where 

 we intended to use 

 them. Screw-holes had 

 been drilled in the 

 proper places, and it 

 was but a short job to 

 screw the corners to- 

 gether with an auto- 

 matic screwdriver, as 

 shown in Fig. 4. It 

 would have taken less 

 time to nail the cor- 

 ners; but since it 

 would be more difficult 

 to take them apart in 

 ease we should have to 



the screws at the 



transfer them to some 

 other 3'ard in the fu- 

 ture we decided to use 

 the screws. 



Fig. 5 shows the case 

 set down over the four 

 hives and the shavings 

 added. We remove the 

 regailar covers, using 

 the super covers only 

 so that the hives may 

 be placed close togeth- 

 er, as shown in Fig. 3. 

 Fig. 6 shows one of 

 these cases in which we 

 are wintering four col- 

 onies at the home yard 

 just after we had fin- 

 The cover picture for this 

 of the cases out at the 



ished packing it. 

 issue shows one 

 Blakeslee yard after a month of snow and 

 ice. We have two bee-cellars which we con- 

 sider almost ideal ; but somehow we have a 

 more comfortable feeling when we think of 

 the bees in these snug winter eases than we 

 have when we go into either one of the 

 cellars. Perhaps it is because we imagine 

 that the bees, if given their choice, would 

 ask for their hollow tree and the privilege 

 of flying whenever the weather is suitable. 

 A winter case is probably the nearest ap- 

 proach to the hollow tree practicable for 

 the modern beekeeper. So far as we know, 

 the winter cases give such i^rotection that 

 the clusters maintain nearly the same posi- 

 tion regardless of the temperature outside. 



Fig. 5. — The case set down over the hives, and the packing material put in. 



