1909 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



167 



schilling's bee-shed roofed with separate pieces of galvanized iron. 



possible that Mr. Bayless has made some slight 

 improvement by which he overcomes the defects 

 of the Miller machine. But the action of the 

 Bayless knives, and the angle of them toward the 

 combs, are precisely the same as those in the Mil- 

 ler machine. While the Providence man used a 

 cam movement, Mr. Bayless employs the princi- 

 ple of the crank. We should be glad to get re- 

 ports from those who have tested the Bayless ma- 

 chine. 



In this connection we may mention that Mr. 

 Samuel Simmins, of Sussex, England, has invent- 

 ed an entirely different machine from any thing 

 that has yet been mentioned. It consists of a 

 series of stationary sharp-edged knives or \'- 

 shaped trowels mounted vertically, and so spaced 

 that the cutting edge of one knife would extend 

 beyond that of the other. If the Miller patent of 

 1903 had not been limited to the use of knives 

 actuated by springs it is clear to us that his patent 

 would have covered the Simmins invention also. 



Our English inventor claims that his device is 

 an unqualified success. Indeed, he feels abso- 

 lutely sure that it will supersede nearly all hand 

 uncapping for frames without projections or 

 spacers. It is cheap in construction, and could 

 probably be put on the market, if it fits Ameri- 

 can conditions, at a comparatively moderate 

 price. 



In the mean time there is another uncapping- 

 machine in Chicago, concerning which some 

 claims have been made. For the present, at 

 least, the public will doubtless be conservative, 

 believing that, inasmuch as machine uncapping 

 has proved a failure in the past, it will continue 

 to do so. We shall see — En.J 



A BEE SHED WITH AN 

 RL E RO OF. 



BY G. F. SCHILLING. 



ADJUSTA- 



The hives shown in the shed face the south 

 except a long row to the left which faces the 

 east. These sheds are convenient in many ways. 

 The roof is of 1 V-'nch corrugated galvanized 

 iron sheets, 26 in. wide by 4 feet long, and each 

 piece is movable so that it may be raised to any de- 

 sired height. After the fourth super is put on it 

 raises the iron beyond the framework so that 

 the one piece must be held down by a stone. 

 There is a wire running parallel with the front 

 of the sheds, just high enough to let the roofing- 

 sheets slip under when there are not too many 

 supers on. It is supported by two cleats of wood 

 nailed to the outside ends of shed and drawn tight 

 by an eye- bolt with long threads. Bricks placed 

 on the rear ends of the sheets usually hold them 

 down without another wire. Some of the best 

 colonies are in the sheds facing the east, not in 

 the view, one colony filling seven complete supers 

 and another six. Also two others side by side 

 with six each, one of them a new swarm, hived 

 in June. 



The old colonies are usually wintered in the 

 sheds, and are packed with plenty of newspapers 

 around and over them, between the oilcloth and 

 covers, and straw or hay between and over the 

 hives. The entrance is closed to one or two 

 inches. They usually winter very well this 

 way, and come out in the spring strong and 

 healthy. The new swarms and lighter colonies 

 are usuallv taken in the cellar for the winter. 



State Center, Iowa. 



