884 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



July 15 



SWISS BEE-STATION AT ZELL. 



course, upon the way sections are put in supers. 

 The reason of this will be evident to all. 



The escape-cones being in a row lengthwise 

 through the center of the cover, and about Yt. inch 

 above the top of supers, afford the only light into 

 the box, thus attracting bees to the exit. It is 

 amusing to see the bees rushing out faster than 

 is possible to count them. I tried the mosquito- 

 netting with escape; also cloth, but there seemed 

 so much light where not needed that it did not 

 work well; but when the above method was tried, 

 it worked like a charm. In mid-summer the bees 

 are not disturbed in their exit by outside bees; 

 but late in the season, when the honey-flow is 

 slight, they are likely to be. To prevent this I 

 constructed a hood, or cover of thin stuff with 

 wire-screen top, long enough to cover all the 

 cones, 4 inches high and 4 inches wide. It is 

 very light, easily handled, and when put over the 

 cones it will be filled with bees from the box be- 

 low every 10 to 15 minutes. When it is lifted, 

 and turned upside down, it is amusing to see the 

 bees leave for home. 



Now about your comments as to the loss of 



young bees. Did you ever notice nurse bees not 

 old enough to mark their location occupying su- 

 pers of sections? It is possible that a few might 

 be found there; but I think it a rare case, as their 

 work is among the larva; in the brood-chamber. 

 It was seldom that a dozen bees could be found 

 after emptying half a dozen cases. In any event 

 they should be shaken in front of any hive desir- 

 ed without fear of their being molested. 



I think if Dr. Miller would try the above-de- 

 scribed escape he would be pleased with it for out- 

 side work. It is not expensive. As he suggests, 

 any bee-keeper can make it, or, possibly, rind a 

 box at some store, the right size; that is what 

 mine was. The cone-escapes he can make him- 

 self at less than 10 cents a dozen, which can be 

 tacked to the top of the box, or can be made in 

 the form of a loose escape, as mine was, to slide 

 into a space provided for it, in which case it could 

 be removed wlien not needed to protect it from 

 the weather, while the box could be left outside. 

 I regard such an appliance as essential as the solar 

 wax-extractor. 



Evanston, III, Feb. 20. 



SWISS BEE-STATION AT BERN. 



