1909 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



261 



heavy flow from buckwheat, the golden rods, and 

 asters. The furious way in which the Alexander 

 bees poured into the hives during the height of 

 bucicwheat bloom was something wonderful. 

 We never saw the like of it in any apiary in the 

 United States, and we believe we have traveled 

 more miles visiting bee-keepers than any other 

 man in the country. Outside of California, 

 Texas, and Cuba, we do not believe that there 

 is another State in the Union that can furnish 

 such conditions, and there are only a few spots 

 in New York State. In saying this we do not 

 mean in any way to lessen the glory that is due 

 to Mr. Alexander for his skill and success in pro- 

 ducing as high as 75,000 lbs. from a single yard 

 in one season. Such a big yield from so many 

 colonies all in one spot is very extraordinary; 

 and the average reader should not get the im- 

 pression that he can achieve the same results in 

 other localities providing he has the requisite 

 skill, and knowledge of the business. 



THE SPRAYING SEASON; THE ATTITUDE OF UP- 

 TO-DATE FRUIT-GROWERS. 



For most localities we have arrived at vshat is 

 known as the "spraying season." Every pro- 

 gressive fruit-grower and bee-keeper, at least, 

 knows that fruit-blossoms should not be sprayed 

 while they are in full bloom. The spraying 

 mixture should first be applied when the leaves 

 are unfolding; then after the trees come into 

 bloom there should be no more spraying until 

 about a week after the petals fall. To spray 

 during bloom means the destruction or injury to 

 the blossoms themselves, and a serious injuty to 

 the bee keeping industry, for there is no denying 

 the fact that many bees are destroyed every year 

 by a few ignorant f uit growers who do not un- 

 derstand the first principles of spraying, and, 

 what is more, they are too shiftless or too much 

 prejudiced to find out. 



So far as we know, all the experiment stations 

 and all progressiue fruit-growers over the country 

 generally tell us not to spray while the trees are 

 in bloom. Carefully conducted experiments at 

 the various stations have shown that many of the 

 spraying-fluids destroy or injure the delicate parts 

 of the blossom. From the standpoint of his own 

 interest, even if he has no interest in bees, the 

 up-to-date fruit-grower will refrain from the prac- 

 tice. Yes, and he knows that the bees are his 

 best friends. Even if the blossoms would not be 

 injured, he would not for a moment think of do- 

 ing those same little friends an injury. 



Some spraying-fluids are not poisonous. Take, 

 for example, the lime-sulphur washes, the kero- 

 sene, and other emulsions of crude oil; but even 

 these should not be sprayed when the trees are in 

 bloom. Hellebore, or any of the Bordeaux mix- 

 tures, especially if they contain Paris green or 

 any of the arsenites, will be poisonous, of course; 

 such fluids are too strong for the delicate pistils 

 and stamens of the flower. 



Spraying is pract ced to kill the fungi and 

 injurious insects. The codling moth that is 

 responsible in the main for wormy apples lays 

 its egg in the bark of the trees. As soon as the 

 larva hatches, it seeks out the blossoms about the 

 time the petals fall and begins to burrow into 

 them. If they have a coating of poison it dies 



before it can do any mischief. Otherwise it 

 makes its temporary home in the maturing fruit. 

 The average manufacturer of spraying-outfits 

 usually gives directions for making the spraying- 

 liquids; and so far as we know there is only one 

 who advocates spraying whfn the trees are in 

 bloom. We respectfully suggest that our sub- 

 scribers investigate the catalogs very carefully, 

 and be suie that they do not buy from parties 

 who give such advice. We do not usually ad- 

 vocate the boycot, but we do think in this case 

 that it is entirely proper to — buy of the other 

 man. 



UNCAPPING - MACHINES USING OSCILLATING 

 KNIVES. 



In our last issue we promised to give the orig- 

 inal cut and the description of the ISimmins' ma- 

 chine that appeared in the British Bee Journal for 

 April 8, 1886, and here it is: 



SIMMINS' UNCAPPING-MACHINB. 



The first principle of this machine consists in its having two 

 oscillating knives, which, driven by foot power, have a reverse 

 motion, while the comb is passed down between them by the op- 

 erator, and the cappings are removed from both sides at once, in 

 the quickest manner possible. These drop into the upper can, 

 which has a strainer at bottom, through which the honey drains 

 into the lower vessel, where it can be drawn oflf by a treacle 

 valve. An invaluable feature in connection with the knives is 

 that, at the recommendation of the manufacturer, Mr. Meadows, 

 of Syston, the edg^s are serrated, thus making them absolutely 

 perfect for this particular purpose. Between the knives, at either 

 end, are guides arranged to take the end rails of the frame, keep- 

 ing such in position while passed through by the operator. 



The lower and upper cans are readily parted for the purpose of 

 cleaning; and all the parts can be renewed if necessary. The 

 knives shou'd be returned to the manufacturer for sharpening when 

 needed, though this will be seldom, as their peculiar construction 

 enables them to stand a large amount of work. 



It is not intended that the machine may be of use for odd combs 

 from the stock chamber. I do without such unnecessary disturb- 



ance, but where any number of colonies are run for extracted 

 honey, the upper combs should all be finished between dividers, 

 and then they may be rapidly passed through the uncapper before 

 going into the extractor; and even where the uncapping-knife 

 will still be used, the rapidity of manipulation will amply repay 

 any extra cost in furnishing upper stories with dividers. — S. SiM- 

 MINS, Rottingdran. 



Whether this will antedate the Miller patent 

 for a similar machine we are not prepared to say. 



