MAUCH 15, 1913 



my method of taking the honey from the 

 oappings." A large wooden paddle was 

 shown as the instrnment by means of which 

 he broke up the sheets of cappings. When 

 these had been broken into small particles 

 by stirring, he next put them into a pocket 

 consisting of a box the size of a Lang-stroth 

 frame. The top, bottom, and sides were 

 formed by a wooden wide frame, and fine 

 tinned wire cloth was nailed to each side. 

 In the top piece (as it stands in the extract- 

 or) an opening was cut in the wood, 

 through which, by means of a specially 

 made funnel, the laroken-up cappings were 

 crowded, after which the device was placed 

 in the extractor, just as a Langstroth frame 

 would be inserted, and the honey was ex- 

 tracted just as honey is extracted from the 

 comb. I saw the wax after the extracting, 

 and found it very free from honey, and I 

 felt that this plan filled a ''long-felt want" 

 in my extracting equipment. I told Mr. 

 Hardy that I would make this outfit in the 

 way of a basket with one entire side made 

 to slide on and off. To this Mr. Hardy ac- 

 quiesced, remarking that the box into which 

 the capping? were placed could be made of 

 heavy tin. I have six such baskets now 

 ready for use. We shall have to call this 

 apiarian implement the Hardy capping- 

 extractor. 



Brantford, Canada. 



[This new method of draining cappings 

 by centrifugal force is one that gives prom- 

 ise of much merit. We shall try it ourselves 

 the coming season. Mr. Hardy's apiary is 

 shown in the cover engTaving for this issue. 

 — Ed.I 



EXPERIENCES OF A FOUL-BROOD INSPECTOR 



The Greatest Trouble that of Opening Hives 



BY J. E. CRANE 



I fancj' that a good set of burglar's tools 

 would be a verj' good outfit for an inspector 

 ill opening even movable-comb hives; for 

 in nothing have I been more disappointed 

 I ban in opening such hives. I believe that, 

 as yards run, it is as easy to get into box 

 hives as into those containing combs that 

 are supposed to be movable. I thought at 

 fiist it was because I found so many with 

 Hoffman frames, and I still think the Lang- 

 stroth more readily movable, when propei'ly 

 constructed; but the greatest difficulty has 

 been because of crooked combs. Many bee- 

 keepers appear to be afraid of their bees, 

 then hive them and run. At night they 

 set the new swarm in its place as quickly as 

 possible, and get away without stopping to 



see whether every thing is all right. 80 I 

 find hives with Langstroth frames properly 

 spaced at one end, while at the other they 

 have all slid together with no uncertain re- 

 sult. 



HIVES STAND TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. 



Some of my vexations have been caused 

 by the position of hives which were set in 

 long rows, perhaps not more than four 

 inches aj^art, and which it was necessary to 

 lift from their stands before I could open 

 them. The three in the illustration will 

 show what I mean ; but three are easy com- 

 pared to twenty. Often it is easier to open 

 hives and to examine them than to lift off 

 the stone, boards, and slate with which they 

 are covered. I often think, as I make my 

 rounds, how much the majority of beekeep- 

 ers are losing by not knowing better how 

 to keep bees. 



NOT NECESSARY TO DISINFECT HIVE-BODIES. 



When I began work, and found foul 

 brood in almost every yard, it seemed like 

 trying to fight an enemy that used noiseless 

 guns and smokeless powder ; but after more 

 experience it seems to be controlled by well- 

 defined laws; and those who are willing to 

 follow a few easily learned rules can rid 

 their yards of it. I am watching with a 

 good deal of interest in order to determine 

 whether it is necessary to burn out brood- 

 ehambei-s or to disinfect them otherwise. I 

 have suggested to some experienced bee- 

 keepers tO' try it, without burning or dis- 

 infecting, and so far it has seemed to work 

 Avell. The fact that many beekeepers have 

 overcome the disease by leaving colonies 

 queenless for a time would seem to indicate 

 that it is not always necessary to burn out 

 hives for the purpose of destroying all 

 germs of disease. 



If it proves successful it will greatly less- 

 en the work of changing combs, especially 

 where large chaff hives are used. 



CLEANING THE TOOLS. 



How shall we disinfect the tools we work 

 with? Some inspectors advise boiling in 

 hot water for half an hour — a safe provi- 

 sion against carrying infection to the next 

 yard, no doubt, but far from practical, both 

 because of the difficulty in getting hot water 

 and the loss of time. Then an inspector's 

 fingers often become soiled with foul-broody 

 honey. Must they be cooked with the hive- 

 tools for half an hour? I have compro- 

 mised; and instead of boiling with water 

 I thrust my hive-tool, when through with 

 one yard, or before commencing on another, 

 into the ground, in and out, until it is bright 

 and clean, and I have no fear of its carry- 

 ing disease. I also wash my hands in water 

 if I can get it. 



