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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE 



holding' eaoli bull, \evcr use nails in fdit- 

 ening a tractor together. They are certain 

 to loosen under the continuous vibi-ation. 



l'''or a one to three or four horse-power 

 engine, tractor wheels taken from a worn- 

 out mowing-machine will answer nicely. 

 They are strong enough to stand the strain, 

 have gTouters ready cast upon their face, 

 and will give very fair tractive power. The 

 standard mowing-machine wheels weigh be- 

 tween 60 aud SO pounds, are 30 inches high, 

 and have about a four-inch face. Any junk- 

 dealer will be glad to furnish good mower- 

 wheels at a cent a pound, which is three 

 times or more what he pays for thera to the 

 farmer owner. 



If a heavier tractor is wanted, binder 

 wheels are the thing. They will answer 

 with engines up to twelve or even fifteen 

 horse power, and of course give very much 

 greater tractive force, both on account of 

 their greater weight and because of their 

 wider face. Cast binder-wheels weigh 

 around 165 pounds each, and the standard 

 wheel is 36 inches high with nine-inch face. 

 Junk-dealers supply them for about the 

 same as mower-wheels, and get them for the 

 same of farmers. As one binder has but 

 one drive-wheel it is necessary', when pur- 

 chasing them, to see that they are alike in 

 size. 



Approximately all binder and mower 

 wheels are bored for the same size of axle, 

 iVL'-inch cold-rolled steel being used. Some 

 binder Avheels are a sixteenth to an eighth 

 inch sm.aller; then the shaft has to be turn- 

 ed or filed down to the wheel bore. If filed, 

 the stock must be removed from all sides 

 alike, and the shaft kept true. It is a good 

 plan to keep the shaft revolving slowly (by 

 hand) Avhile filing. Cut first with a coarse 

 file or rasp, then follow with a medium 

 coarse mill-file, about 12-inch, using both in 

 a diagonal sweep across the shaft and use 

 the opposite diagonal for each of the two 

 cuttings. Finish Avith a fine light file held 

 at right angles to the shaft, and so filing 

 .square around it. This will put a smooth 

 bright polish upon the metal, which may be 

 further trued up with fine emeiy dust upon 

 a cloth when all the surplus stock has been 

 filed away. 



If moie than a ten-horse-power engine is 

 to be used, or if that is a heavy one. it is 

 best to measure off at each end of the shaft 

 the length of its own wheel hub ]ilus the 

 cap and room for about four washers: then 

 cut a length of lV2-incfi water-pipe to cover 

 just the space between the two wheel-spaces. 

 A pipe of this size cut to 43-inch length 

 cost the writer 52 cts. recently, but should 

 be had for less money. Drive the rear axle 



ihi'ough this until the pipe is in the center 

 as in Fig. 2. Follow with two wrought 

 washers at each end, then slip on the bind- 

 er-wheels, two more washers, and the regu- 

 lar mowing-machine-wheel cap with cotter- 

 pin dr()])](ed into place, and the rear axle. 



^^.^....^ 



the tractive member, is completed. As the 

 axle itself is easily obtained from an old 

 moAving-raachine, the holes are pretty cer- 

 tain to be already cut for the cotter-pins. 

 Junk-dealers will furnish mower-axles of 

 \arious lengths at one cent per pound or 

 less, and IMj-ii^ch shafting of this sori; 

 weighs about sis pounds to the foot. Usu- 

 ally a five-foot shaft is long enough, but 

 that depends upon the size of the engine. 



It is assumed that the wheels, whether 

 mower or binder, have the sprocket or gear 

 w heel still attached to them — this, of course, 

 bein2' turned to the inside in slipping on 

 the wheel. Most binders are now run by 

 chain and sprocket, and a good many mow- 

 ers by gear. Sprocket-drive binder-wheels 

 are the best, because, when chains are used 

 in the tractor drive, more play is allowable, 

 and a slight departure from alignment may 

 be taken care of by the chains. \vi excess- 

 ively rough ground, too, there is less ten- 

 dency to cramp the transmission mechan- 

 ism if one of the links connecting the en- 

 gine with the ground-wheels is by means of 

 sprockets and chains. 



In the nest paper, working details will 

 be given for the tranmission machinery, 

 tlie differential, clutch, countershaft, and 

 reversing appliances, etc., Avifhin Avhich the 

 real Avork of the home-tractor builder makes 

 its appeai'anee. 



Ilarraonsburg, Pa. 



[This is the second of a series of three 

 articles by Mr. Putnam, entitled The Home- 

 built Tractor. The third Avill n]ii»eai- in an 

 eaily nuniljer. — En.] 



Combine Simmins and Caging Methods 



\\c )i;ivp all, jiorhaps, licard of tin' man who 

 boasted that, by the use of a certain make of store, 

 he was saving half his fuel, and was asked by a 

 wafT why he didn't buy another stove and save it all. 



.'\fter reading -T. T. Todd's article on the Simmin.s 

 intthod of queen introduction, page 581, .luly 15, 

 and editorial remarks, I am constrained to ask, 

 " Why not combine the Simmins with tlu time-hon- 

 ored caging method? " 



Cage the queen the usual time in llie hive to 

 vliich she is to be introduced, and take l)er out for 

 licr thirtv-:>iinu)es' fast. During this time the hive 

 '\y\\\ l)ecome quiet. Then introduce liy the Simmins 

 plan. 



Ashville, N. 0. O. Bkomfielix 



