334 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. 15. 



work will be done if the wax is maintained at 

 a temperature a little too high for the forma- 

 tion of the film. If either the wax itself or the 

 water below gets too cold, the sheets have a 

 blotched uneven appearance. 



Little need be said in addition with reference 

 to the dipping of the sheets for brood founda- 

 tion. The process is analogous, and a much 

 less difficult one than the other. A little atten- 

 tion will have to be given to learn how deep to 

 dip the board the second time to get sheets of 

 the required weight; but in most cases, some- 

 where from one-third to two-thirds its length 

 will be found about right. 



I have in the foregoing dwelt upon the more 

 important and the more difficult points of wax- 

 dipping for the press, necessarily omitting mi- 

 nor matters which can be easily learned or read- 

 ily inferred, on account of the magnitude of 

 the subject; and I feel sure that what I have 

 written will be of substantial service to the 

 novice— at least, it cost me many dollars and 

 much vexation to learn it. 



Lapeer, Mich., Mar. 23. 



[Your instructions will be applicable not only 

 for sheeting wax for Given presses but for rolls 

 as well. Of course, for the latter it is not so 

 important to have the wax of uniform thick- 

 ness. — Ed.] 



^ I ^ 



HONEY PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA. 



APICULTURE OF THK KAST AND THE WEST 

 COMPAKKD. 



73,1/ Prof. A. r. Cook. 



We all remember the story in the old spelling- 

 book, which surprised our unsuspicious minds, 

 when children, of the "bull goring the ox," and 

 how "circumstances alter cases." One finds the 

 same surprisingly true as he locates in a new 

 country. In Michigan and the East, the case 

 of " comb versus extracted honey " stands about 

 this way: It takes an expiTt to succeed best in 

 securing the beautiful comb, and he will not 

 produce more than about two-thirds of what 

 he could get if he worked for extracted honey. 

 Yet he has a more beautiful and readily salable 

 article, which brings, often, nearly or quite 

 twice as much in the market as he would secure 

 for an equal weight of extracted honey. More- 

 over, there is a peculiar fascination in the pro- 

 duction of comb honey which is lacking in the 

 work of extracting. On the other hand, it 

 must be conceded that the novice will usually 

 succeed better in running his apiary for ex- 

 tiacled honey; will often secure double the 

 amount, and in a poor season is not vexed with 

 a lot of partially filled sections on hand at the 

 close of the season. 



I came to California intending to secure a 

 small apiary, and expected to work exclusively 

 for comb honey, as that always had a pi'ciiliar 

 fascination for me, and I believed I could real- 

 ize as great profit. 



I was fortunate, a few nights ago, in having 

 as my guests Messrs. Rambler and Wilder. We 

 discussed this question, and I learned that, in 

 California, the matter had a changed aspect, 

 from the peculiarities of this region. Nearly 

 all in Southern California produce extracted 

 honey. In the first place, the honey-house, or 

 cabin, is often very primitive. Ants are very 

 numerous and obtrusive. It is easy to avoid 

 the ant nuisance if we work for extracted 

 honey, but very difficult, almost impossible, if 

 we produce comb honey. Again, the bulk of 

 the honey goes east, and is jarred and pounded 

 for days. Extracted honey is safe in barrels or 

 cans, and goes safely, and arrives at its desti- 

 nation in as good condition as it set out. Comb 

 honey, on the other hand, is often seriously 

 mutilated, and the eastern dealer must make a 

 large discount to save himself. Hence the 

 shipper is greatly disappointed when he re- 

 ceives his returns. 



I was quick to see the reasonableness of these 

 suggestions; and the very next morning I or- 

 dered a Bingham uncapping-knife. I shall still 

 work for some comb honey, for I wish to make 

 the acquaintance of those ubiquitous ants, and 

 I must enjoy putting on and better taking off 

 the sections. Perhaps I can find a home mar- 

 ket, and so escape the dangers of shipment, es- 

 pecially as I expect to give the subject of mar- 

 keting California honey most earnest study this 

 coming year. Has not comb-honey production 

 earnest advocates among California honey- 

 producers'? Let us hear from them. 



Claremont, Cal. 



SOME CALIFORNIA JOTTINGS. 



AIJOHTING-UOAKDS; A VALUABLE ARTICLE. 



By K. H. Scliai'ffle. 



In an issue of GiiEANiNos an engraving shows 

 the different styles of hives used in Europe. 

 What struck me most was, that they all had 

 wide alighting-boards that sloped out and down 

 to the ground; and I have sometimes wondered 

 why an alighting-board was not provided for 

 the Dovetailed hive, as the two-inch projection 

 is far too narrow. I have all of my hives set 

 up about 18 inches from the ground, to get 

 away from the toads, mice, ants, grass, and 

 dampness of the soil, to say nothing of the add- 

 ed convenience in handling; and I find it a very 

 simple and inexpensive matter to furnish each 

 hive with a broad slanting alighting-board as 

 follows: To a four-inch-wide strip of quarter- 

 inch stuff nail two strips of '^g stuff, with clinch 

 nails. Have these strips project 3 inches be- 

 yond the side of the four-inch board, and nail- 

 ed so that they will just come inside of the en- 

 trance on each side. Bevel off the top where 

 it slips into the entrance to the hive, so it will 

 dropdown and give a slanting alighting-sur- 

 face. The cross-sticks, it will be seen, must be 



