658 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 15. 



not just the thing for table use, unless this 

 honey is separated from the combs by the use 

 of the extractor, even though the same be sold 

 as a second or third grade of comb honey, which 

 it would have to be if sold at all. on account of 

 the dark color the cocoons would give to the 

 combs. 



PREVENTION OF SWARMING. 



dk. miller invents anothkh non- swarming 

 attachment; how to make it, etc. 



By Dr. C. C. MiUer. 



Prevention of swarming is one the liveliest 

 topics considered by bee-keepers nowadays, and 

 I was keenly interested in Langdon's non- 

 swarmer. On trial I found some points about 

 it that were troublesome. I therefore got up 

 one of my own, using, however, the principle on 

 which the Langdon works, throwing all the 

 bees alternately from one to another of a pair 

 of hives. Possibly I may never use it again, 

 but others may like to try it. 



The arrangement is quite simple. Two 

 sticks, two nails, two tacks, and a piece of wire 

 cloth are the materials needed, and the size of 



r 



WIRE CLOTH CX'T RK.M»Y TO FOLD. 



the Slicks and wire cloth may vary greatly, all 

 that is necessary being to have a passage from 

 the hive opening in front of the other hive. 

 For the sake of being detinite I will give defi- 

 nite dimensions, and these any one can vary to 

 suit his own notions. 



First a pine slick half an inch shorter than 

 the width of the hive-entrance, the olhi r di 

 mensions being 1 inch by }4 inch; then a piece 

 of wire cloth 8 by 2}4 inches. At one end of 

 the wire cloth cut two slits IXin- long, the slits 

 running lengthwise, and 1 in. from each edge. 

 In order to form the wire cloth into right shape, 

 a special stick should be made. Take a piece 

 of stuff }... inch square and 8 or 10 inches long. 

 On one end lying lengthwise of the stick, nail a 

 piece X inch sqaure and 1}4 inches long or long- 

 er. Of course, this may be made of a single 

 piece by properly s^awing. Now form you wire 

 cloth on this stick. Bend up at a right angle 

 the middle tongue of wire cloth made by cut- 

 ting the slits, and fold the wire cloth around 

 the stick, crowding the tongue tight up in the 

 angle that was made by the little piece that was 

 iiaiUd on. Bend the projecting part of the 



tongue down on the stick. Now slip the wire 

 cloth oft' the tormiug-stick. and push into it one 

 end of the stick first mentioned. Don't push it 

 in as far as it will go, but stop short half an 

 inch, and drive a tack into the end of the 

 tongue, and also one into the two thicknesses 

 of wire cloth on the opposite side fiom the 

 tongue. Tliose two tacks are all that are need- 

 ed. The stiffness of the wire-cloth will suffice 

 to keep all in shape. 



It is supposed that you have two hives stand- 

 ing side by side, as close as convenient, say 

 with an inch of touching. Now put your non- 

 swarmer at the entrance of one, letting the 

 tube of wire cloth project in front of the other 

 hive. The entrance of the first hive is entirely 

 closed except a place half an inch square where 

 there is nothing to prevent the bees coming 

 straight out. Put the end of your finger 

 against this hole, and the bees can still get out 

 of the hive by going through the length of the 

 tube. Standing to hold your finger there be- 

 comes tiresome, so you may close the hole by 

 any other means, and may use one that will at 

 the same time hold the non-swarmer secure in 

 its place. Take a stick 8 or 10 inches long, and 

 of almost any dimensions otherwise, say J4 

 square. An inch or or so from each end of this 

 stick drive in a wire nail of small size, but it 

 must be long enough so that you will drive it 

 clear through thf^ wood and have the point 

 project about l-i inch. After putting your non- 

 swarmer agaiu-it the entrance, push this shorter 

 Slick up against it and push down so as to drive 

 the two nail-points into the bottom-board. Of 

 course, it must fit close at the one end so as to 

 shut entirely the hole that would allow the 

 bees to come straight out through the wire 

 cloth, compelling them to pass out through the 

 tube. 



One advantage of this arrangement is. that 

 the free hive is entirely free— nothing to hinder 

 its ventilation, and nothing to hinder the bees 

 going out and in just as freely as though there 

 were no non-swarmer within a mile. 



There is no danger of the e.scape-tube being 

 clogged. It is no smaller at its outlet, and is 

 half an inch square throughout its entire 

 length. I suppose it could just as well be an 

 inch square if desired, for on account of the 



