1908 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



935 



tioii in sections by the different methods under 

 discussion, H. H. Root, page 18, Jan. 1, seems to 

 lose sight of the fact that the accurate cutting of 

 the foundation required to make a perfect fit, 

 which is so essential when using the full-sheet 

 and hot-wax plan, will cost about the same as the 

 splitting of the sections, and I can save half the 

 cost of putting it into the sections by reducing 

 the time fully that much. 



Regarding the appearance of the split section, 

 it is true that the edge of the foundation shows 

 on three sides. However, that can not well be 

 considered as an objection, since the line is per- 

 fectly straight and true, and the section, being 

 protected by the wide frame, is perfectly white 

 and unsoiled; and the thin stripe around the sec- 

 tion only adds to the appearance by breaking up 

 the monotony of a plain surface, and gives the 

 section a finished appearance. 



The ordinary section of honey produced in a 

 T super or section-holder, with the top soiled 

 and discolored by propolis, actually looks cheap 

 beside the split section with its solid block of hon- 

 ey without any pop-holes. 



The real value of the split section, and its su- 

 periority over every other method, can be deter- 

 mined only by a comparison of the finished prod- 

 uct, which results in a higher percentage of per- 

 fectly filled sections than any other method. 

 And even if it cost twice as much to fill sections 

 with foundation by this method, the difference in 

 the selling price of the honey would make it up 

 many times over. 



Birmingham, Ohio. 



[Some of our subscribers have had a chance to 

 test the propositions advanced in this discussion 

 during the past season, and we should be pleased 

 to hear from all such. Let us have the facts. — 

 Ed.] 



CARBON BISULPHIDE FOR FUMI- 

 GATING. 



How^ to Apply; Is it Safe to Use Cyanide 

 of Potassium? 



BY J. L. BYER. 



Prof. Surface's article, page 571, May 1, re- 

 garding the eradication of the bee-moth by means 

 of cyanide of potassium was read with consider- 

 able interest. While every statement made by 

 him is true, yet I can not refrain from entering 

 a protest against the use of such a deadly drug 

 when we have something else just as efficacious, 

 and practically free from any danger attendant on 

 its use. 



In common with Prof. Surface, the writer has 

 no use for sulphur for fumigating combs, as the 

 fumes of that article always (even when the 

 slightest quantity is inhaled) cause me to be very 

 sick — nausea and violent headaches being the 

 main symptoms. The "just as good" I have in 

 mind is, of course, the comparatively well-known 

 drug, carbon bisulphide. The only danger ac- 

 companying the use of this article in fumigating 

 any thing is the certainty of an explosion, if the 

 room where the gas is circulating is entered by 

 any one bearing a light or fire in any form. Of 

 course, this is a circumstance easily guarded 

 against, as combs are pretty sure to be treated in 



the honey-house or other out-building. Certain- 

 ly no one would think of using the cyanide treat- 

 ment too near the living-rooms. 



Like the cyanide of potassium, the fumes of 

 the evaporating carbon bisulphide will kill the 

 bee-moth (or any other insect) in all stages, 

 whether as egg, larva, pupa, or winged moth; 

 and, in direct contrast with the cyanide of potas- 

 sium, the carbon-bisulphide treatment is so sim- 

 ple and so free from danger that the veriest novice 

 can use it as effectually as a veteran. All that is 

 necessary is to have a close room (or, better, a 

 close box), size dependent on the number of 

 combs to be treated. While it is not absolutely 

 necessary that the receptacles be air-tight, yet the 

 nearer that condition the less of the drug required. 



On top of the combs (the fumes are heavier than 

 air; hence go downward) pour a few ounces of 

 the drug in an open dish, and the job is done. 

 At two of my yards the fall flow is so light that 

 we often remove supers at the close of the clover- 

 flow, and allow what little honey that comes in 

 afterward to go into the large brood-nests. These 

 super combs, as well as any empty brood-combs 

 that are on hand, are packed close together in 

 large boxes holding over 300 frames of Quinby 

 dimensions in each box. These boxes are made 

 of matched lumber with close-fitting top of the 

 same material. When the box is full of combs 

 a common saucer is placed on top of the combs 

 at each end of the box, the two saucers filled with 

 the carbon bisulphide, box closed, and the combs 

 are good for all time so far as moths are concerned. 



In the summer of 1906 one of these large boxes 

 was filled with over 300 combs in August at the 

 Cashel apiary. At the time we had no carbon 

 bisulphide on hand; and when we made our next 

 visit to the yard we found that the small grubs 

 were already quite numerous; and wherever the 

 combs touched together the fine webs were much 

 in evidence. 



As explained before, two saucers of the carbon 

 bisulphide were put on top of the combs, and the 

 box closed. Two weeks afterward the box was 

 looked into, and every moth larva vsas as black 

 as a coal, and the combs were never looked at 

 again till the following June, when not a particle 

 of damage was found, barring the little injury 

 that had been done previous to the carbon- 

 bisulphide treatment. 



I have had no experience with fumigating 

 comb honey, and hence I could not say whether 

 the gas would discolor the cappings or not; how- 

 ever, from absence of any after-effects on combs 

 I am inclined to think that no damage would be 

 done. 



THE COST OF THE BISULPHIDE. 



Just a word as to the cost of the carbon bisul- 

 phide. There is no question but that the cost of 

 production of this drug is very low; but for the 

 first ie\y years of our experience our local drug- 

 gist taxed us five cents per ounce. A friend 

 knowing something of the drug trade " made me 

 wise," and since then the same druggist now 

 charges me 25 cents a pound. 



At my three yards I usually use about one 

 pound, so you see the cost is not worth mention- 

 ing. 



I might yet say that, if no box is handy, small 

 quantities of comb can be made temporarily free 

 from the moth if the combs are in fairly well- 



