270 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Heads of Grain from Different Fields 



The Robber-cloth Perfected 



No doubt all users of the present robber-cloth have 

 realized its lack of effectiveness in fully covering 

 the open hive top at all stages of operations. I am 

 pleased to present herewith for the benefit of other 

 beekeepers, my original idea of a perfected robber- 

 cloth as an aid to advanced bee culture. 



By joining two cloths by means of a light stiff 

 frame so proportioned as to leave a space of about 

 2% inches between the cloths, several new advan- 

 tages are gained, and the duplex arrangement be- 

 comes positively effective in guarding the open hive 

 top while convenient access to the frames is actually 

 facilitated. 



Fi. 



r/Q.j. 



and turned over, using either side as the axis. This 

 movement draws the edge of one cloth over the other, 

 thereby overlapping and closing the gap E. The re- 

 verse movement of the frame A again opens the 

 gap almost instantly. 



The edge of each cloth opposite the frame A is 

 weighted somewhat by a hard-wood stick, an iron 

 rod, or in any suitable way, so as to hold the cloth 

 fiat against the wnd when the frame is turned. This 

 frame A is best made from %-inch dowels and two 

 pieces of galvanized sheet iron. Three %-in. holes 

 are punched in each end of the iron pieces, through 

 which to drive the clinching nails. The dowels are 

 slit with a saw (a fine circular saw does it best), 

 but do not cut the pieces en- 

 tirely apart until later. The 

 reason will be evident when 

 the job is further under way. 

 Use flat-head thin wire nails 

 just long enough to prick 

 through. Place the selvage of 

 the cloth next to the gap E, 

 and hem all exposed raw edges. 

 Proportion the cloths so that 

 each will be an effectual cover 

 by itself, large enough so that 

 careful adjustment will not be 

 necessary. An eight-frame cloth 

 could not be used on a ten- 

 frame hive. 



This perfected robber-cloth 

 is particularly useful in treat- 

 ing foul brood ; but care must 

 be taken afterward to sterilize 

 it thoroughly before using 

 again around healthy colonies. 

 Two perfected robber-cloths are 

 needed in practice, one for the 

 hive being operated, and .in- 

 other for the hive to or fro n 

 which frames are being taken. 

 The perfection of this duplex 

 arrangement is best appreciat- 

 ed under practical use. x\ny 

 one is at liberty to make and 

 use this new robber cloth, and 

 it is my hope that it will be 

 tried extensively, and that my 

 expectations for it may nrove 

 well founded. 



C. D. Cheney. 

 Lyndhurst, N. J. 



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F/g. Z. 



The drawings show the device so clearly that no 

 description is really needed. In practical use the 

 frame A is placed above the particular frame to be 

 lifted, with each cloth lying flat away from the frame 

 A. When it is desired to close the gap E, the frame 

 A is grasped at either end by the finger and thumb. 



Spaces with Packing Material 

 vs. Dead-air Spaces 



It is generally conceded by 

 carpenters that a dead-air space 

 is warmer than a solid wall. I 

 have no reason to doubt that 

 it is; but I want the proof. I 

 think it is proved that, with 

 brick, stone, and concrete 

 blocks, a dead-air space is 

 warmer in winter than a solid 

 wall ; but that is real dead air. 

 I mean that there is no air 

 that can get through the ce- 

 * ment blocks from the outside 

 as I am sure it does through 

 wood. A thermos bottle has 

 the air pumpt 1 out, and con- 

 tains only a vacuum, if I understand correctly. Tlie 

 •■-ame bottle with dead air would not be as good by 

 a half — that is, to exclude either heat or cold for a 

 long time. The thickness must be considered. A 

 brick, stone, or cement wall with a dead-air space 

 would be all the way from six inches to two feet 



