1898. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



205 



THE PLAIN SECTION. 

 During the past year or two no one 

 subject has so largely engrossed the at- 

 tention of our bee-papers as the plain 

 section and slat-separator. The Amer- 

 ican Bee-Keeper has devoted but little 

 space to the discussion, preferring 

 rather to defer its remarks until the 

 question should become more settled, 

 either for cr against its general adop- 

 tion, which it was anticipated would be 

 done during the season just past. In 

 this, however, we have all been to some 

 extent disappointed, as the general fail- 

 ure of the honey crop precluded the ex- 



arrangement. 



In presenting the picture, Editor 

 Hutchinson gives it as "an object les- 

 son in comb-building," and says it is a 

 fair representation of such honey as he 

 has seen produced in the two classes of 

 sections. 



We have, as yet, had no opportunity 

 of testing the advantages claimed by 

 many for the plain section, though we 

 have seen enough of the product upon 

 the market to justify the conclusion 

 that all plain sections are not as well 

 filled as those which have come before 

 the attention of the Review; and yet. 



Plain Sections, from M. 1,. Main's Apiary. 



perimental work projected. Hence, the 

 matter stands, awaiting favorable con- 

 ditions to make more thorough tests of 

 its merits in the future. 



The Bee-Keepers' Review, by whose 

 kind permission we present elsewhere 

 in this number an engraving of four 

 completed sections of each style, and to 

 which illustration editorial reference is 

 made in the March issue of The Bee- 

 Keeper, has given the matter very thor- 

 ough consideration, and inclines to 

 think well of the new style in many 

 ways, yet wisely cautioning all to try 

 them first in a small way before mak- 

 ing expensive changes iu their super 



no prettier goods have been seen this 

 year by us than has been shown in 

 plain sections. 



The eight plain sections herewith 

 shown were purchased at retail from a 

 local grocer, from whom we obtained 

 the producer's address, Mr. M. L. 

 Main, Grand Valley, Pa. As the honey 

 was as nice as any we had seen, and 

 was, indeed, very tempting, we de- 

 ferred "sampling" its qualities long 

 enough to arrange it before the camera 

 and to expose a plate; then, upon con- 

 sulting the subscription list we were 

 pleased to find that Mr. Main was not 

 only a subscriber, but that his Bee- 



