562 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAi.. 



years ago, at the time I made his ac- 

 quaintance at the convention at Toronto, 

 I first learned about T supers from oui 

 good friend D. A. Jones, but I never 

 since could get him to tell where he 

 learned about them. I have some doubts 

 whether he knows. 



Referring to the matter of the mark 

 on that hook for drawing sections, a 

 mark made with a file is much better 

 than to have a string tied on, and I 

 would have used it in the first place but 

 for one reason. I didn't know enough. 



Back now to the T super. I am not 

 sure whether any one has used the T 

 tins upside down. Different ones have 

 fastened them to the super, but gen- 

 erally, I think, in the usual position. 

 They may, however, have been used 

 in the way Mr. Cornell suggests. Cer- 

 tainly they have been used with the 

 bee-space at the bottom instead of the 

 top. In the super Mr. Jones showed me 

 the bee-space was at the bottom. A 

 strip was nailed all around the inside of 

 the bottom edge, and on this the T tins 

 rested. He had also T tins to run 

 lengthwise of the super, using either set 

 of T tins in the same super. They were 

 all made of the same tin, and I don't 

 think tin of extra weight will be needed 

 for the longer T tins, although I am not 

 sure just what is the weight of tin 

 needed. But quite light tin will be 

 found to answer, I think. 



I feel pretty sure it will not be liked, 

 to have the bee-space changed from the 

 top to the bottom. When the Roots first 

 became interested in the T super, they 

 were inclined to have the space as D. A. 

 Jones had had it. I think the matter 

 was fully discussed in back numbers of 

 Qleanings, but I cannot refer now to the 

 place. It is possible, however, that the 

 discussion was not public. Be that as it 

 may, they gave up, and I feel pretty 

 sure the T super would never have at- 

 tained so much popularity if the space 

 had been below. 



I may mention that one objection is, 

 that it would take more time and care 

 to adjust a cover with a rim, and noth- 

 ing but the eye to guide in getting the 

 rim at the right place. Also, that how- 

 ever carefully the super may be made so 

 that the sections shall come flush with 

 the top, it is hardly possible not to have 

 some shrinking or swelling of the super, 

 making the sections come a little above 

 or below the edge, and then there's 

 trouble in adjusting the cover, as well 

 as an extra job of gluing for the bees. 

 If, however, the hives have no bee-space 

 at the top, that's an argument on the 

 other side. 



Having the T tins t'other side up 

 would allow the sections to come together 

 square lengthwise, which they will not 

 do as I use them without having little 

 separators H inch wide at the top. But 

 having them solid together, as proposed, 

 would make it very difficult to take out 

 sections singly. This, however, is not 

 very often needed. 



I am not sure that Mr. Cornell had the 

 right impression about the favorite sec- 

 tion-holder of the Roots. It is practically 

 a wide frame one section high, holding 

 four sections, but without any top-bar. 

 It needs no machinery to get the sec- 

 tions out of the frames, for you can just 

 pick them out. 



It may be a good thing to have sep- 

 arators 4J^, but are they really wanted 

 of tin ? I have settled that I never 

 want a loose separator of tin, and that I 

 never want a nailed separator of 

 wood. A loose separator of tin will 

 " shrink lengthwise," if I may use such 

 an expression, thus making the tin curl 

 into the section. There is no trouble in 

 having insets in the wood separators. 

 I've had them so. 



Yes, for a few years I have used a fol- 

 lower, wedging up with a plain stick, 

 and like it much. But I had no trouble 

 having the comb built all right in the 

 frame of the section without the fol- 

 lower. With the follower the separators 

 are kept entirely straight in place. 



Having used the T super for ten 

 years, I am on the lookout for something 

 better, but may never find it. 



Marengo, 111. C. C. Miller. 



[By the date of Mr. Cornell's letter, it 

 will be seen that it was written just 

 about a month previous to his sudden 

 death. We received it, with Dr. Miller's 

 reply, on March 22nd, but could not find 

 room for it before now. As it doubtless 

 will interest many of our readers, we 

 publish it, though Bro. Cornell is no 

 longer here to continue the discussion. — 

 Editor.] 



Sonietliliig More Aliout Liceriie or Alfalfa 



WriUen tor the American Bee Journal 

 BY E. S. LOVESY. 



Having been requested by a great 

 many to more briefly describe the lucerne 

 plant, I will try to comply, and also give 

 a picture of it. The most of the ques- 

 tions asked relate to climate and soil. 



