THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



109 



using the section holder in combination 

 vv'ith an open separator. 



Mr. W. — Speaking of shipping cases, I 

 intend to leave out the supporting cleats, 

 and paper, also return to the two-row, 

 which will be a saving of 30 per cent, in 

 glass. I shall also tr}^ a few cases with a 

 single row of sections, which will save 

 another 30 per cent, of glass. Such a 

 case can be constructed of narrow pieces 

 of cull lumber 23 inches long to hold fif- 

 teen sections. Futhermore, I shall make 

 a groove on each side for a sliding cover, 

 as nailing or screwing the covers down is 

 objectional for home marketing. The 

 opening of a sample case is too slow where 

 nails are used; besides, the covers are 

 often broken. 



Mr. A. — I believe you are right. Ex- 

 periencing the same difficulty, I have been 

 using a single nail in one end of the cov- 

 er, and a double pointed tack in each op- 

 posite corner, driven in the end grain of 

 sides and cover. They are easily remov- 

 ed, when the cover may be turned one 

 side for removal of sections. Of course, a 

 single-row case would be odd looking, 

 yet it could never be set on end. 



Mr. W. — Speaking of section cleaners, 

 I would like to know something about 

 their workings. What do you think of 

 the disk plan suggested by friend E. 

 R. Root? 



Mr. A.— While I don't know it all, I 

 can say there is one inherent objection to 

 all disk or belt cleaners which cannot be 

 overcome. While thev answer very well 

 for the outside or surface, the grindings 

 or fine particles of propolis mingled with 

 woody fiber can not escape when a disk 

 is applied to the section edges. As a con- 

 sequence, both comb and inside edges of 

 the sections are often dusted to an extent 

 which would render them quite unsalable. 

 With an outside row of cells unsealed, 

 much dust will be thrown into the honey, 

 making the objection untenable. My ex- 

 perience thus far teaches that a small cyl- 

 inder is the correct principle. A small 

 point of contact with the section edges 

 leaves abundant space for the downward 



escape of dust, which is assisted by a cur- 

 rent of air induced by rapid rotation, and 

 and gradually thrown off by centrifugal 

 force. Not a few difficulties present 

 themselves in the construction of a perfect 

 section cleaner; the most serious being 

 the tendency to gum or clog the cjdinder. 

 Sandpaper I regard as the poorest materi- 

 al that can be used. Aside from the ten- 

 dency to gum, it must be glued to the 

 cylinder, otherwise it will become torn; 

 and, as a consequence, injure the honey 

 cappings. Emery cloth is decidedly pref- 

 erable. It can be quickly secured to the 

 cylinder and roughly used without the 

 slightest danger of being torn. Still, it 

 will become throughly gunimed in clean- 

 ing 25 or 30 sections, according to tem- 

 perature and amount of propolis. 



Mr. W. — How about a planer-bit as sug- 

 gested by Friend Schaeffie of California ? 



Mr. A. — Having tried cylinders with 

 cutting and scraping surfaces, I am con- 

 vinced that nothing so fragile as a section 

 can withstand such violent action; and 

 that propolis can be removed only by a 

 grinding surface. In view of the tenden- 

 cy to gum or clog, and knowing the effect 

 of boiling water upon propolis, I substi- 

 tuted a cylinder of solid emery for the 

 cloth. You will see, Friend W., that 

 another step in advance was then made 

 in securing something durable, although 

 a little more expensive at the outset. 

 Still, I am not satisfied yet; something 

 nmst be forthcoming that will prevent all 

 gumming in order to economize every 

 moment of time, and insure rapid work. 



Mr. W. — Well, Friend A., I am sur- 

 prised to learn that so many difficulties 

 were encountered; certainly your experi- 

 ments ha\-e involved much time and ex- 

 pense. But will not the cost of such a 

 machine be a serious objection to its gen- 

 eral introduction ? 



Mr. \. — I think not. The present ma- 

 chine will be somewhat simplified. Tak- 

 ing all into consideration, I think the 

 coming section cleaner can be sold for 

 about $5.00. Having cleaned .about one 

 thousand sections with mine, the past sea- 



