726 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



The bees drink on Ihe lily pads. 



A LILY- POND FOR A WATERING-PLACE 



BV REV. J. N. LEWIS 



A lily-pond which almost any one can 

 make is an ideal watering-place for bees, as 

 well as being very ornamental. The birds 

 utilize it for a drinking-fountain and bath- 

 ing-pool. 



This miniature pond as shown in the 

 picture cost for material exactly $2.00, and 

 the work I did myself. The only expense 

 was for four bags of Portland cement at 

 llfty cents each. I simply dug out an ex- 

 cavation the size and shape 1 wanted my 

 pond, and plastered it with two coats of 

 cement, letting the tirst coat dry hard be- 

 fore applying the second. The rim 1 cov- 

 ered with clam-shells, which can be had for 

 the gathering in this part of the slate. If 

 shells arc not to be had, small pebbles can 

 be used. When all became drv and hard 1 



l)ut in six inches of rich loam with coarse 

 sand on top, and planted pond-lily roots, 

 which grow and bloom from May to Sep- 

 tember year after year. The pond shown 

 in the picture I made six years ago, and 

 about all the attention it needs is covering 

 in winter to protect from freezing, and 

 supplying with water to replace evapora- 

 tion. Usually the rainfall keeps it full. If 

 not I have a well near at hand, and it is a 

 small matter to sujjply all that is needed. 



The lily pads make perfect floats for the 

 bees, and they are on them by hundreds all 

 through the summer season. It is situated 

 about twenty feet from tlie apiary, and the 

 bees have a constant supply of water near 

 ill hand. 



North Weslpoi't. Mass. 



THE HOME -BUILT TRACTOR 



BY \ENO AV. PUTNAM 



Every tractor, home or factory built, 

 consists of three general groups — the power 

 plant, or engine, the tractive element, or 

 drive-wheels, and the transmission, which 

 diverts the energy of the one into the othci'. 



'I'hc hist named is made uj) of several sub- 

 gioups wliicii depend for llieir ai'range- 

 ment largely upon the engine used and the 

 nian who uses it. 



(iciu'rallv the best engine for Ihe home- 



