46 



THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



spur wheel, in consequence of the pinions F F only being connected to the shaft E when 

 turned in one direction viz. from left to right. This is effected by the pawls d d. As the 

 spur wheel gears into the pinion H, a vibratory motion is given the cutters / by means of the 

 connecting rod K, and the cutters / work over the cutters h, similar to the blades of shears, 

 and will cut the wool from the animal in a perfect and expeditious manner; the implement, of 

 course, as it cuts, being moved over the body of the animal. 



The advantage of this invention, besides the rapidity with which it operates, is, that the 

 implement will not mince or cut the wool twice, nor cut the animal, as is often done with the 

 ordinary sheap-shears. Scientific American. 



Drone-trap for Beehives. 



THE accompanying figure is a vertical section of 

 an improved drone-trap for beehives, recently in- 

 vented by Clark Wheeler, of Little Valley, New York. 

 A represents part of a beehive ; A 7 is an ingress 

 and egress passage of the working bees. B is the 

 drone trap-box ; C is a sliding glass front for admit- 

 ting light to decoy the drones into the box, &c. F is 

 the drone passage communicating with passage a of 

 the hive, and is set inclined; it consists of a tube 

 having a reticulated front b for admitting light, &c., 

 and is provided with one or more pendant valves 

 G H ; these valves swing on centres d e, as they are 

 operated by the drones passing under them. As soon 

 as the drones attempt to pass through the egress 

 passage A' of the working bees, and find it too small, 

 they will, being attracted by the light from the trans- 

 parent front of the trap-box, seek an escape through 

 the tube F, as sliown by the arrows 1, causing the 

 valves to swing outward as they pass, after which the 

 valves assume their common position, and prevent 

 their return to the hive. Working bees going into 

 the trap pass out, as indicated by the arrows 2 3, 

 through the several passages E D c provided for 

 their escape, which passages are not large enough 

 for the drones, their bodies being nearly twice as 

 large as those of working bees. The movable glass 

 front is taken out, when desired, to remove the dead or entrapped drones. 



In parent or stock beehives, large numbers of drones are seen between the months of 

 May and August, several thousands often existing in a single hive, consuming the surplus 

 honey, and frequently depriving the working bees of their requisite food for winter. Few 

 drones go off with young swarms, the greater number remain with the parent stock ; hence 

 it is both profitable and prudent to entrap a large portion of them from the stock hive or 

 hives. The drone bees doing no labor, they should be always limited to the lowest number 

 necessary. This simple and efficient drone-trap, for removing a superabundance of drones, 

 can be applied to any hive in use. 



Fruit Preservatory. 



A PATENT has been recently taken by Mr. William D. Parker, of New York City, for an 

 improved fruit ice-house, which is reported to possess superior advantages. The object of 

 this invention is principally the perfect preservation of fruit in all seasons, by keeping it at 

 a low and equal temperature, free from moisture and injurious gases. 



The house may be of any proper form. The sides of it are double, with a space of 

 suitable width between them. The roof is also formed of two thicknesses. The spaces are 



