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THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



technicalities are worth looking after. I 

 refer to the supers and all work included 

 until the honey is sold. 



Mr. W. — All right; I am interested in all 

 that's progressive pertaining to our pur- 

 suit; for I consider it the most profitable, 

 as well as the most instructive and 

 elevating branch of farming. There 

 are lessons to be learned from the bee, 

 setting forth the highest order of govern- 

 ment. They are practically a theocracy — 

 self-governed, and working for the general 

 welfare of all. Then, again, we may learn 

 lessons from their industry — the instinct, 

 which, above all else, characterizes their 

 nature. And, as artisans, can we find 

 anything in Nature comparable to them ? 



Mr. A. — That is true friend W., we may 

 learn lessons from the bee. 



Mr. W. — Well, friend A., what were 

 you going to present in the matter of 

 plain sections? 



Mr. A. — You know that one improve- 

 ment in any line necessitates or opens the 

 way to others; for example, the plain 

 section has opened the way for machine- 

 cleaning; and now that machine-work is 

 an asstired success, I propose to facilitate 

 its work in every way possible. The mar- 

 ket here in Jackson, having had machine- 

 cleaned sections, will not be satisfied 

 with anything less in the future. As you 

 know, my super has no slats under the 

 sections; hence, more or less pro- 

 polis will be plastered there. Now, I in- 

 tend to construct forty or fifty sets of sec- 

 tion holders similar to friend Root's. 

 Having used them with my super, I find 

 they work admirably; any number may 

 be used to expand or contract the size as 

 desired; and you know the advantages of 

 an elastic super. 



Mr. W.— But didn't you tell me last 

 Spring they were too fussy ? 



Mr. A. — Yes; but, as I said before, the 

 section cleaner has already necessitated 

 it. Furthermore, I think that I shall be 

 enabled to cheapen my tin separators 

 enough to balance the cost of holders. 

 Ivike dummy combs, although a little 



fussy, I am satisfied they will be a paying 

 investment. Movable frames are fussy 

 compared with box hives; and had the 

 plain sections and separators been intro- 

 duced beside the primitive honey -box for- 

 ty-five years ago, they would have been 

 considered ver}^ fussy indeed. But we are 

 progressing toward a perfect system of 

 bee-culture and the requisite appliances 

 nmst naturally constitute a part of the 

 system. By the way, how do you prevent 

 pop-holes or passage-ways in the section 

 corners ? 



Mr. W. — Simply by filling the sections 

 with foundation close to the sides, and 

 giving the equivalent of room for travel 

 by using a thoroughly open separator. 

 This is fully illustrated by the old style 

 of sections, with their closed corners, 

 which afford insufficient communication; 

 hence, an opening is left in the corners of 

 filled sections. Separator cleats likewise 

 form an obstruction compelling a line of 

 travel up and down; which interferes ■with 

 the comb builders, and prevents the sec- 

 tions from being well filled next to the 

 wood. Plain sections, (having no closed 

 corners), although better filled even with 

 a cleated separator, will be almost solid 

 with honey if a thoroughly open separa- 

 tor is used. 



Mr. A. — Your experience is mine to a 

 dot. 



In view of this fact, I intend, as an ex- 

 periment, to fill a number of sections full 

 to the corners with foundation, cutting 

 an inverted V-shaped opening at the bot- 

 tom, extending to the corners, about % 

 an inch deep at the center, which will af- 

 ford a passsge-way for the bees, wh?re it 

 will most likely be filled at the finish. 



Mr. \V.— I believe that will help; still,' 

 they are filled well enough for all practi- 

 cal purposes. Taking the extra work in- 

 to consideration I doubt as to its paying. 

 Do you leave a space above the sections ? 



Mr. A. — I do not unless the supers are 

 tiered. With a thoroughly open separa- 

 tor, it is unnecessary; furthermore, the 

 sections are not exposed to propolizing. 

 As already stated, that is my reason for 



