180 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



of the opening^ in the end of the hive, 

 but the piece is cut on a bias. It rests 

 on top of the ang-ling piece of wood, 

 resting- on the hive bottom. Tliese 

 parts partially fit into the imperfect 

 comb. When the bees wish to build 

 queen cells by this method they have a 

 convenient and inviting- place rig^lit 

 about the center of the brood chamber, 

 and at a place, bj' means of the with- 

 drawal of the straig-ht piece, where in 

 a moment the hive can be examined for 

 cells. If the cells are there, they may 

 be in other parts; if not tliere, they will 

 not be found in other jiarts, as far as I 

 know, unless the bees are superseding 

 the queen. Let me say here, if other 

 combs have holes in them half-way or 

 so between the top and bottom bar, and 

 near the center, this plan may fail and 



was first described, but the principle 

 has not been affected. 



The idea is to oifer the bees a con- 

 venient place in the center of the hive, 

 or near the center, for cell-building, 

 and to so arrange that an examination 

 of this point can be made without re- 

 moving- cover, supers, queen-excluders, 

 brood frames, etc. At each examina- 

 tion, a little of the comb maj' be cut 

 away just above the block that is re- 

 moved for examination, thus giving- 

 added room, if needed, for the building 

 of cells. When the piece is withdrawn, 

 smoke should be blown into the open- 

 ing, and an examination made. If 

 there are cells, the3' cannot be exam- 

 ined without cutting them loose and 

 drawing- them out, which can best be 

 done with a pair of long scissors. 



mmm/j//////////////m////m ^ ^^^ 



HOLTERMANN CELL DETECTOR — SECTIONAL VIE-W\ 



is not safe. Such should not be, and I 

 have no remedy in this particular for 

 those who do not do as I do, use full 

 sheets of foundation or reject combs 

 imperfect. Unless this is done the 

 swarm detector is of no use. 



In addition to the foregoing, friend 

 Holtermann has sent me a letter which 

 reads as follows: — 



Br.\ntford, Out,, May 4th, 19U5. 

 Friend Hutchinson — 



In reply to yours re the Queen Cell 

 Detector, I send 3'ou a somewhat rough 

 drawing which will illustrate the latest 

 detailed construction of the device. It 

 has undergone some changes since it 



If the combs are full of holes, or have 

 other imperfections, this plan will not 

 be safe; but such combs are not to be 

 found in hives if the best results are to 

 be attained in bee-keeping-. 



As already stated, since first design- 

 ing and testing the Cell Detector, I 

 have made some changes, but \\\y ex- 

 perience, and that of others, satisfies 

 me that it is a practical success. It 

 will save valuable time and and heavy 

 work. It is patented, but I am willing" 

 to allow a few bee-keepers to test it, 

 free of charge, this year, upon a few 

 hives, but I want them to first arrange 

 the matter with me. 



R. F. Holtermann. 



