AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



451 



bees stored, on an average, about 10 

 pounds per colony. In view of this, I 

 think the qualities of the black bees 

 should be defended. 

 Transit Bridge, N. Y. 



me "LlElitiiliig" Bee-Escape. 



M. E. HASTINGS. 



The engraving below is a sectional 

 picture of the "lightning" bee-escape. 



Figure 1 shows the escape complete, 

 ready for the board. C is the perforated 

 top, which allows free ventilation from 

 the hive to the supers. A is the top 

 opening which the bees enter on leaving 

 the supers. 



Figure 2 shows the escape with the 

 top removed. A is an outline of top en- 



B a 



The ''Lightning" Bee-Escape. 



trance. B, B, B, B are the outlets from 

 the escape to the hive. C is an outline 

 of top plate. D, D are side walls, and 

 E, E are circular end walls. 



The ground plan shows the bees pass- 

 ing out through the four passages 

 toward B, each bee pushing against the 

 spring as it passes out. It is impossible 

 for them to return, there being only 

 space enough for a drone to leave be- 

 tween the ends of E, E, and the side 

 walls, D, D ; and the springs hang in 

 the center between the above mentioned 

 walls. 



By simply placing a suitable board, 

 with a bee-space top and bottom, having 

 an escape in the center, between the 

 the supers and the hive, the escape will 

 do the work that was most dreaded — 

 that of harvesting the surplus honey, 

 with neither the taint of smoke nor the 

 capping injured, leaving the honey in 

 perfect condition for market. 



It will clear the supers in from 2 to 4 

 hours. One super containing 27 one- 

 pound sections was cleared of every bee 

 in 1 hour and 43 minutes. 



Dlrecllous for Mmw Bees. 



MRS. L. HARRISON. 



Spring is the best time to purchase 

 bees, and although it is advisable to 

 patronize one's own neighborhood, it is 

 not always practicable. The choice 

 among the varieties of bees, or the de- 

 sirable hive, may not be there to be ob- 

 tained, and colonies can be shipped long 

 distances, and arrive at their destination 

 in good condition, provided they are 

 started right. 



It is very important that the frames 

 do not knock together, killing the queen 

 or bees, or breaking the combs from the 

 frames. Bees that are shipped in early 

 Spring, which have not had their frames 

 lifted during the Winter or Spring, need 

 no other fastening than that which the 

 bees have already done. Where the 

 frames rest on metal, so they will not be 

 thus fastened, they should be spaced 

 above and below with a piece of notched 

 board. No bee-keeper, who has a repu- 

 tation to sustain, can afford to ship any 

 colony but a good healthy one, with the 

 frames fastened with wire nails, or 

 spaced as described. 



Whether little or much ventilation is 

 needed while bees are in transportation, 

 depends in a great measure upon the 

 time of the year, the weather, also the 

 size of the colony. Good sense would 

 seem to teach us that a hive that was 

 full to overflowing with bees would re- 

 quire more air than a hive with a very 

 small colony in it. Colonies that are 

 shipped in early Spring when there are 

 but few bees, need little ventilation. It 

 is not best to ship bees until all danger 

 from severe freezing weather is past, 

 as the cold makes the comb brittle, and 

 it will break easily from the frames. 



If you send bees by public carriers, 

 make this resolve, that you will do your 

 work faithfully and well, and that noth- 

 ing less than a railway accident or 

 steamboat explosion will let those bees 

 out. 



Where bees were covered with new 

 muslin last Fall, and the upper story 

 shut down it, it might be safe to ship 

 thus, as far as the bees are concerned ; 

 but suppose a meddlesome fellow comes 

 along and pulls up a corner of the 

 muslin, or cuts a hole in it, what then ? 

 Either nail a board of the right dimen- 

 sions to fit down nicely over the brood- 

 frames, and nail it well so that no jack- 

 knife can pry it up, or nail the upper 

 story to the lower, and the cover upon 

 it. If it is very wa.rm weather it might 



