102 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



WIRE-CLOTH SEPARA- 

 TORS. 



Someone lias patented a section- 

 case having wire-clotla separators. 

 As tlie question of this new mate- 

 rial for such a purpose is being 

 discussed, it may be of interest to 

 the readers of the "Api" to know 

 the opinion of some prominent 

 beekeepers on this point as given 

 in the "Api", May issue, 18S5. 



The question by Mr. William 

 Stephan was as follows : 



" Whatis the reason why wire-netting 

 cannot be or is not used for separa- 

 tors? We used it last year in six liives 

 and found it a success ; it is cheaper 

 than perforated metal and does not 

 warp like the wooden ones." 



ANSAVER BY L. C. ROOT. 



I prefer wood separators from 

 the; fact that they 'stay in their 

 proper place best and are more 

 even and smooth. The bees are 

 less liable to build comb fast to 

 them, and mj'^ experience is that 

 the honey presents a better ap- 

 pearance than when built with any 

 kind of perforated separators. Be- 

 sides, wood is cheapest. 



ANSWER BY J. E. POND. 



Wire-netting can be used for 

 separators ; the objection is that it 

 is so flexible that the face of the 

 capped combs will not present that 

 smooth, even and regular appear- 

 ance, so desired and desirable. 



ANSWER tY p. H. ELWOOD. 



Costs more and will not keep its 

 shape as well as wood. Besides, is 

 colder. 



ANSWER BY G. AV. DEMAREE. 



It can be used ; but I object to 

 it on account of its flims^^ charac- 

 ter. When proi)olized to the sec- 

 tions it pulls out of shape in getting 

 it loose, and when it gets daubed 

 up with propolis, etc., it is next to 

 impossible to scrape it off. 



ANSWER BY E, E. HASTY. 



Probably a suspicion that wire- 

 netting might prove bothersome by 

 ravelling or otherwise, and present 

 loose ends of wire to perforate the 

 honey, prevents it being more geii- 

 erall}' tried. 



GLOVER-SEED. 



WHEN AND HOW TO SOW. 



As this is the time of year when 

 every beekeeper begins to inquire, 

 "What shall 1 sow or plant for bee 

 pasture ?" I will try to give you a 

 few pointers. I recommend clover. 

 It is the greatest honey-plant of 

 America, and alsike stands at the 

 head. We don't half appreciate 

 it. 



We should sow it everywhere — 

 sow it on the roadside where the 

 teams have cut up the sod, to keep 

 out of the mud ; sow it where the 

 pigs have rooted up the sod in the 

 orchard or pasture ; give the boy 

 a pocketful when he goes fishing, 

 and tell him to scatter some where- 

 ever he sees a piece of bare ground 

 on the creek-bank ; put an under- 

 drain in the cat-swamp, and sow 

 some there ; burn up all the brush- 

 piles and old stumps, and sow al- 

 sike in the ashes. Remember that 

 it makes the best pasture and hay 

 of any plant that grows. Don't 

 forget to mix a little white clover 

 with it. They grow well together, 

 and, at the price it is selling now, 

 it is the cheapest grass- seed in the 

 market. 



PEAVINE CLOVER. 



This, as a honey-crop, comes the 

 last of July and the early part of 

 August, just the time when we 

 need it most. It is the great crop 

 to reclaim worn-out or poor land. 

 Tliere is no clay land too poor to 

 I'aise a good crop of it. With 150 

 or 200 lbs. of good phosphate or 

 bone-meal per acre, you are very 

 sure of oettins: a sood seed of 



