1902 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



815 



happens with the Bingham. In case of 

 burninff old scraps of wood with nails in 

 them, the nails that fall throusrh the grate 

 are easily removed by taking oft" the bottom. 



On the bottom of the bellows are two 

 legs, made of heav}' nails, so that the leath- 

 er of the bottom never touches the ground. 

 The sheath of metal attached to the barrel 

 for fastening the bellows to it is made ex- 

 tra heavy, and after months of use it is as 

 firm as when first put on. The top of the 

 bellows has a half-inch strip nailed across 

 both front and back to assist the fingers in 

 carrjdng or using, and no amount of hcney 

 will cause a slip. The height of the smo- 

 ker, with top on, is such that it balances 

 nicely in the hand over the hive. The 

 spring inside the bellows is of just a nice 

 tension, so that one hand can hold and 

 work it for a long time if necessary, and no 

 cramp in wrist or palm will occur. 



This smoker will burn any kind of fuel, 

 from dry grass or leaves to hard wood, 

 shavings, sawdust, or any old thing that is 

 handy; and it does not go out, even if left 

 standing for hours. Just as long as there 

 is any thing left in it to burn, it will stay 

 going. In case of an attack in force, this 

 smoker will send out such dense clouds of 

 pungent smoke, under " forced draft," that 

 the bees quickly conclude they have busi- 

 ness in some other quarters, and quit. I 

 am so well pleased with its "stay lit" 

 qualities that I want the smoker-making peo- 

 ple to take the hint and put out an instru- 

 ment for the general benefit of bee-keepers 

 who have no time to lose. 



These pictures also show my tool-box, 

 which somebody may like. It is divided 

 into two compartments, the partition mak- 

 ing the handle. One compartment holds 

 one sharp knife, one dull knife, one putty- 

 knife, one dull long-handled chisel, one 

 small pair pincers, one small pair wing- 

 clii'ping scissors, one small level, all in 

 strap loops attached to the side. This 

 compartment also holds one horse-shoeing 

 hammer, with which you may dig in the 

 ground, split wood for fuel, drive or pull 

 nails, etc. ; one box of tobacco-stems ground 

 up fine; queen-rearing plug-cups, cages, 

 nails, tacks, etc. The other compartment 

 contains fuel only, cut into right size for 

 using. 



The wheelbarrow is of my own make, the 

 slats across the bottom being for clearance 

 of possible burr-combs under supers when 

 bringing to the honey-house. 



Dos Mesas, Livermore, Cal. 



[It is a difficult matter to get out a smo- 

 ker that will suit every one. The condi- 

 tions and notions of individuals vary so 

 greatly that manufacturers have to strike a 

 golden mean. The large smoker that you 

 have made would be too large for the ma- 

 jority of bee-keepers — too heavy and bulky. 

 Such a smoker having a removable rear 

 cad would also have its objections, for the 

 smoke would be inclined to leak out at the 

 back. The tendency now in the construc- 



tion of smokers is to reduce weight and in- 

 crease the capacity of the fuel-chamber. In 

 doing this it is not necessary to make a 

 great big roomy nozzle such as you have 

 made, for it is not practicable to store fuel 

 in the nozzle. The nozzle should be reduced 

 in size and in length, and yet should be ca- 

 pable of dertecting the smoke at an angle. 



We invite criticisms, and would say, for 

 the benefit of our friends, that we are not 

 only reducing the weight of our smokers, 

 but are otherwise improving them. — Ed.] 



" FARTHEST SOUTH " APIARY. 



An Interesting Account of a Chinese Lady who Owns 



400 Colonies; Her Experience with 



the Danzenbai<er Hive. 



BY SOJOURNER. 



" Down in Chaguanas," in the mind's eye 

 of a Trinidadian, is somewhat as Nazareth 

 used to be in the olden time; but it contains 

 one thing that is uncommon in this part of 

 the world — a good-sized apiary which, if 

 not now run en entirely up-to-date lines, 

 bids fair to become so, and has already 

 made a little stir in the little world of Trin- 

 idad. 



When I made up my mind to take a spin 

 of nearly 25 miles to see this apiary, there 

 were some misgivings in my mind whether 

 the way was good all along; but as mile 

 after mile of beautiful macadam road un- 

 folded its sinuosity I thought how ground- 

 less were my fears, and how prone we are 

 at times to conjure up unpleasant vistas of 

 what is in store for us. The "bike" slip- 

 ped along click, click, click; only the East- 

 Indian coolies who were traveling in the 

 same direction required a tinkle from the 

 bell now and then to warn them of the ap- 

 proach of the silent steed, and it is most 

 extraordinary how these people will walk 

 and sleep at the same time; but, what is 

 far more interesting is the attitude of the 

 African toward the cyclist as he journeys 

 along. He may see you coming in the op- 

 posite direction half a mile off, but you 

 must ring your bell as you approach him 

 (or her for it matters not which sex). They 

 like to hear the bell. Two tropical showers 

 soaked me through; but this onlj' served to 

 wash the road clean. An3' waj', I found 

 out the place of C. P. Lee, for I was doubt- 

 ful all the while about the proper designa- 

 tion of the owner's name. Several persons 

 told me the " place " belonged to Peter Lee; 

 and as the bike bowled onward I mentallj' 

 asked what the C stood for. The mystery 

 was soon solved. The name was Caroline 

 P. Lee, and so the proprietress was a ladj' 

 — not a common man. 



There is something more than common 

 about this lady, as my readers will see b}' 

 the picture. Her home laud is the Celes- 

 tial Empire — quite a distinction for a mod- 

 ern bee-keeper. I do not recollect seeing 

 the portrait of a Chinese lady bee-keeper 

 in any bee-journal. It will be perceived 



