898 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Dec. 28, 1905 



little value. Use freshly-made powder, for unless kept dry 

 and in air-tight containers after being made, it loses gradu- 

 ally its insecticidal powers. 



Put a quarter of a pound of good powder into a watering 

 can (or other vessel with spout, from which a small stream 

 can be poured) and add a little water ; stir until powder is 

 thoroughly wet, and then add the balance of the gallon of 

 water. 



Keep stirring the mixture while using, and pour the 

 mixture slowly into the tunnels of the ant-hill till they are 

 all filled. In my experience one application destroys the 

 colony. H. S. Jewett, M. D. 



We suppose the Persian insect powder mentioned can 

 be bought at any good drug-store. 



A New Wax-Extractor 



Arthur C. Miller, who is so often a disturber of existing 

 opinions, believes that there is an objection to the wax- 

 press, because the pressure, while pressing out the wax, at 

 the same time has a tendency to hold it where it is. So he 

 has invented a wax-extractor that works on the principle of 

 keeping the mass as loose as possible, stirring it up re- 

 peatedly in the hot water. The following description of 

 his extractor is given by him in the American Bee-Keeper, 

 a patent being applied for : 



"It consists of two cans, one within the other. The 

 outer can, shown in the cut, has a conical cover with an 

 outlet pipe for the wax, a faucet for the withdrawal of 

 water, and an inlet for water. Through the top of the coni- 

 cal cover passes the shaft 

 which moves the inner mech- 

 anism. The inner can has a 

 perforated bottom and top, 

 the latter being removable. 

 Within this can and attached 

 to it are parts of the grinding 

 apparatus, and attached to the 

 shaft which passes through 

 the middle of the can are cor- 

 responding parts. 



"The method of operation 

 is simple in the extreme. After 

 removing both covers hot 

 water is poured in until the 

 can is one-half to two-thirds 

 full. Then comb is put in un- 

 til the mass is up to the top of 

 the can, then the covers are 

 replaced, hot water added 

 through the funnel on the 

 cover, and as soon as the 

 fluids reach the apex of the 

 cone, the wax begins to flow 

 out. The crank is then turned 

 for a few minutes, more water 

 is added, and more wax es- 

 capes. Where the water ap- 

 pliances are convenient, a 

 small but steady stream of 

 hot water may be allowed to 

 flow in, and the wax will flow 

 as steadily out. When all of 



the wax has escaped, the faucet is opened, some of the 

 water drawn ofi', covers removed, the inner can (which con- 

 tains all the refuse) is taken out, emptied, and returned to 

 its place, and the process repeated. It will be observed 

 that it is thus necessary to use but a little fresh water with 

 each change. Furthermore, it is not necessary to have the 

 extractor on a stove When it is used in the open air or in 

 a cool or unheated room, it is advantageous to have the ex- 

 tractor protected with a jacket or wrapping of cloth or 

 paper to conserve the heat." 



Please send us Names of Bee-Keepers who do not now 



get the American Bee Journal, and we will send them sam- 

 ple copies. Then you can very likely afterward get them 

 subscriptions, for which work we offer valuable premiums 

 in nearly every number of this Journal. You can aid much 

 by sending in the name,"-, and addresses when writing us on 

 other matters. 



iniscellaneous 

 Hetps ♦:♦ 3 terns 



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Dadant Methods of Honey-PFoduetion.— Beginning 

 with the first number of the American Bee Journal in Jan- 

 uary (next week), Mr. C. P. Dadant will commence a series 

 of articles, giving in minutest detail the very successful 

 methods of honey-production practiced by himself and his 

 late lamented father for so many years. These articles will 

 be illustrated, and will be worth dollars and dollars to the 

 readers of the American Bee Journal who wish to make 

 money in bee-keeping. 



Be sure to renew your subscription promptly (if not 

 already renewed for 1906), so as not to miss any of Mr. 

 Dadant's valuable articles. 



Apiary and Home of R. F. Wutzke.— The following 

 was sent us by Mr. Wutzke : 



Owing to the sudden changes of weather the past sea- 

 son, my bees could take but little advantage of the heaviest 

 honey-flow. 



At the beginning of last spring I had only 2 colonies. 

 My intention being to increase my apiary, I immediately 

 purchased 25 3-f rame nuclei, each of which became a strong 

 colony. 



I have just counted my colonies, and found I have 65, 

 from which I obtained 410 pounds of honey. I have to-day 

 (Nov. 8) just completed a new landscape containing ten 

 times the area of my present apiary, which I expect to 

 occupy next spring. R. F. Wutzke. 



The Apiary of J. M. Buchanan.— When sending the 

 picture shown on the first page, Mr. Buchanan wrote thus : 



I am mailing you a photograph of my apiary. I have 

 about 30 colonies of Italian bees, and a few Caucasians, and 

 shall give the latter a thorough test next season. 



Bees winter here on the summer stands with no protec- 

 tion. I am running for comb honey exclusively, and sell 

 all I can produce at 15 cents per section. 



J. M. Buchanan. 



The Bee as an Emblem.— Mr. C. G. Chevalier, of 

 Maryland, wrote us as follows recently : 



George W. York & Co. — The clipping herewith is 

 from the Philadelphia Press, concerning the use of the bee 

 as an emblem by Emperor Napoleon. Many of your readers 

 will no doubt be interested in reading the translation of 

 Book IV of Virgil's Georgics, written in the year 31, B. C. 

 The subject of the fourth book is the management of bees ; 

 their habits, economy, polity, and government are described 

 with the utmost fidelity, and with all the charm of poetry. 



Virgil first describes a beautiful location for the apiary, 

 then follows with advice as to the kind of hive most desir- 

 able. After giving some information regarding the treat- 

 ment of swarms, the present-day reader will be astonished 

 to learn that he instructs one to clip the wings of the 

 "kings " (which we now know to be queens). 



While we know that many of Virgil's ideas are erro- 

 neous, as illustrated by the above paragraph, as well as by 

 his statement that they cull their progeny with their mouths 

 from leaves and fragrant herbs, still the whole article is 

 full of good advice even to the modern bee-keeper, and the 

 reading of this chapter will surely be a pleasure to any one 

 interested in apiculture. Yours truly, 



C. G. Chevalier. 



The clipping referred to by Mr. Chevalier is as follows, 

 being a reply to the question, " Can you give the reason for 

 Napoleon using the bee as an emblem ?" sent to the Press 

 by one of its readers : 



" When it was decided in 1804 that the First Consul 

 should assume the title of Emperor, the dignity to be heredi- 

 tary, Napoleon had elaborate searches made into the stately 

 ceremonials of royalty. Much pains were taken to ascer- 



