230 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



left for the next meal wouldn't start a case 

 of robbing among the bees. 



Several advantages are gained in market- 

 ing comb honey in the shallow estracting- 

 frame — viz., a greater surface of comb is 

 exposed, giving a better appearance, which 

 attracts the eye of the consumer; it will 

 stand shipping better because it is more 

 finnly attached to the four sides of the 

 frame; it will increase the demand for 

 honey through increased consumption, and 

 can be produced for less than the section 

 honey. Actual sales at four leading gi'ocery 

 stores showed the startling comparison that 

 one shallow extracting-frame was sold for 

 every single section that was purchased, the 

 section honey retailing at 20 cts. per section, 

 and the shallow extracting- frames selling f or 

 75 cts. each, or 15 cts. per pound. A glass- 

 front case was made to hold eight of these 

 frames. All frames but the one next to 

 the glass were wrapped in oiled paper and 

 tied both ways with yellow " baby ribbon," 

 which is about % inch wide. This makes a 

 neat, attractive, and fast-selling article. 



A NEW HIVE-ROOF. 



Has any one tried a shingle roof for a 

 hive? The accompanying photographs show 

 one as constructed by a beehive manufac- 

 turer here. His claims for this cover are 

 that, since it is constructed like the roof of 

 a house, it affords ample ventilation in 

 summer ; is as waterproof and durable as* a 

 shingle-roof house, and cannot warp nor get 

 out of shape. 



The framework— that is, the rafters and 

 bottom plate — are cut and constructed on 

 the order of a miniature house roof, and 

 the shingles are nailed on the same as on 

 any shingle roof. 



I have tried this cover for several seasons, 

 and find that it is all the owner claims for 

 it. However, my chief objections to such a 

 cover are that it is heavy and cumbersome, 

 and cannot be stacked for storage compact- 

 ly. It also has to be handled very carefully 

 in order not to knock the shingles loose. 



For a hive cover for the eight-frame hive 

 T am using a cypress board one inch thick, 

 16 inches wide, and 22 inches long. Across 

 the ends I nail an inch-square oak strip and 

 clinch the nails on the under side. These 

 inch oak strips prevent warping, and add 

 sufficient weight to the cover to prevent its 

 being easily blown off. Properly painted, 

 these covers last for years, and cost about 

 25 cts. each. 



SUCCESSFUL TRANSFERRING. 



Transferring to cure American foul brood 

 after the fall flow has ceased is usually 

 defer lod until the following spring; but we 



have adopted the following plan with good 

 success : To do the work safely, select bright 

 cool mornings in the latter part of October, 

 when there is no danger of other bees flying, 

 and do the work on the " installment plan." 

 Begin by removing the two outside brood- 

 frames; close up the hive and put the two 

 frames out of reach of the bees, being care- 

 ful that not a drop of honey is left exposed. 

 The following morning, if the weather is 

 favorable, remove two more bi'ood-frames, 

 shaking or brushing the bees off into the 

 hive. Follow this procedure till only two 

 frames are left in the middle of the hive. 

 Late in the evening part these two frames 

 and slip in two brood-frames between with 

 full sheets of foundation. 



Quickly remove the two remaining brood- 

 frames and shake or brash the bees off into 

 the hive. Spread a cloth over the frames, 

 A shape; close up the hive, and after dark 

 close up the entrance. Leave the bees thus 

 48 hours. Have a new hive prepared with 

 fall sheets of honey, removing two cen- 



Thc cover is l.uilt like tlif ro.if (.1' a Ihuim'. 



tral frames. Late in the evening move the 

 old hive along-side the new one; lift the bees 

 from the old hive which are adhering to the 

 frames of foundation, and slip in place in 

 the new one. Some bees will also be clus- 

 tered on the cloth, and this can be spread 

 over the new hive. The remaining bees in 

 the old hive can be dumped at the entrance. 

 The bees quickly shaken from the last two 

 old frames have very little opportunity of 

 taking much honey with them. Being con- 

 fined 48 hours they consume what stores 

 thej' have with them. 



We find that by thus transferring in the 

 fall the bees draw out the new foundation, 

 the queen starts la3-ing, and we are in ship- 

 shape for the coming of spring. 



Wa.shington, Ind. 



