636 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 1. 



To obviate the offensive smell carbolic acid pos- 

 sesses to bees, I mix the 54-per-cent solution with 

 some oil of tliyme. The odor of this, it is well 

 known, is very agi'eeable to bees, and a dozen or 

 twenty drops of it to a pint of mixture scent it per- 

 fectly, and apparently suppress the smell of the 

 carbolic. 



Purging the bees is a rather new idea to us; 

 but it seems reasonable, inasmuch as the bees 

 affected with the bee-paralysis have swollen or 

 distended abdomens. They seem to be unable 

 to void their faeces, which is of a yellow or wa- 

 tery color. The sprayings alone, so far as re- 

 ported to us for this country, seem to have had 

 but little effect. 



Inasmuch as this disease seems to be making 

 serious havoc in warm climates, it is highly 

 important that we know more about it; and we 

 hope some of our friends in the South and in 

 some parts of California will try the treatment 

 described by Mr. Helmes, and report the same 

 through our columns. For Mr. Kitching, in 

 whose apiary Mr. Helmes operated, a complete 

 cure was effected. Mr. C. S. Pord,of Columbia, 

 Mis-!., in this country, has tried every thing we 

 could suggest. We hope, however, he will try 

 this purging, together with the sprayings, Dnce 

 more, and report to us the result. While we 

 are not overly sanguine, we think those whose 

 bees are seriously affected with the disease 

 should give the treatment at least a trial. 



townsend's section-former. 

 A few days ago we received the accompany- 

 ing electrotype, together with a circular, from 

 O. H. Townsend, of Alamo, Mich. We had 

 seen the same thing illustrated in the Bee- 

 Tieepers' Review previously, but did not believe 

 there would be power enough to fold the section 

 satisfactorily. The sample machine that came 

 to hand with the electrotype was put to the 

 test, however, and, greatly to our surprise, 

 sections were folded neatly and nicely. The 

 Hubbard section-former, with which our readers 

 are familiar already, has a powerful toggle- 

 joint for forcing the dovetails of the ..sections 

 together. This machine, instead of depending 

 upon mere pressure, drives the corners together 

 with a sort of blow or sharp thrust from the 

 hand. The following are the directions sent 

 out by the manufacturer: 



DIRECTIONS FOR USING. 



Lay the press flat on a bench, with the large notch 

 from you, with the end of the level' pointing- to the 

 right. Secure the press by fastening a cleat to the 

 bench back of the press. 



Now, having dampened tlie sections where they 

 are to be bent, pick one up, taking hold witli botli 

 hands, with the lingers on the side having the 

 grooves on, lioldnig it from tiie lower side; this puis 



the section in a position to fold and place in press 

 with only one motion. Let the ends of section 

 crowd out in the notch B in the lever; hold the sec- 



tion down with the left hand, and give the lever a 

 light, quick stroke with the right hand, which fin- 

 ishes it. 



For further particulars, correspond with him 

 as above. 



Harrison's improved aixey drone and 



QUEEN trap. 



It is well-known that the Alley trap, as ar- 

 ranged by the inventor, was designed to catch 

 only the drones in the hive. Mr. G. W. Har- 

 rison, a neighbor living in Copley, O., has ar- 

 ranged his so it will not only catch the drones 

 that are in the hive, but the drones without, 

 that may apply for admission at its entrance. 



The engraving above will, we think, make 

 the idea plain. You will observe there is both 

 a front and rear view, the last mentioned being 

 at the bottom. The drones from within the 

 hive will, after failing to pass the zinc, take 

 the direction of the arrows, as shown in the 

 lower figure. Those from without will take 

 the direction of the arrow — that is, under the 

 central passageway, and up through the cone. 

 We believe Mr. Harrison claims that It gives 

 better ventilation. Mr. Harrison's modification 

 may or may not be new. We have not looked 

 it up. 



