.1894 



(.LEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



805 



Now, the various foundations above mention- 

 •ed vary (lullc a little in the number of feet per 

 pound. The VanDouseu (and this gives the 

 leanest combs) was a triHe the lightest, being 

 14.22 feet per lb. The Dadant stood 14.21 feet 

 per lb.; the Root, 13.75; the (Jiven, only 9.iil; 

 while the Given-Hunt — Hunt sheets worked on 

 a Given press— was 9.37. Now, if you will look 

 again over these figures you will see that the 

 Given and Given-Hunt, both made on the 

 ■Given press, were quite a little the heaviest 

 foundation used; and it was these sheets that 

 gave the fattest combs. The fatness of the 

 comb in the case of the other makes of founda- 

 tion, in like manner, seems to vary somewhat 

 according to the weights ; that is, the lighter 

 the foundation the leaner the comb, and vice 

 versa. The figures do not show this to be 

 strictly so, but strongly enough to show which 

 way the wind blows. 



A few months ago reports were given show- 

 ing that the Given foundation seemed to be 

 more readily accepted by the bees— in fact, very 

 largely substantiating the facts above given; 

 but it should be understood that the Given 

 foundation, made between two fiat plates, was 

 a heavier grade — not heavier foundation septa, 

 or bases, but far heavier foundation walls. I 

 did not realize there was so great a difi'erence 

 between the cell-walls of the Given-press foun- 

 dation and that made on the rolls until a Given 

 press was sent us for experimental purposes. 

 In fact, the walls were so heavy that the foun- 

 dation looked more like sheets of wax with 

 small hexagonal holes dented in equally dis- 

 tant from each other. It then occurred to me 

 for the first time that it was not so much the 

 )nethod of embossing the sheets as it was the 

 kind of dies, or punches, used in making the 

 eell-tcalls. 



I took a sample of the Given press foundation 

 to our Mr. Washburn, and asked him to make 

 punches that would make roller foundation 

 like the sample, or very near it. He did so, 

 and the foundation in every respect .secmcf? to 

 be as soft as that made on the Given. A test 

 in the hive also seemed to show that bees re- 

 garded it in like manner. Of course, the foun- 

 dation with heavy side-walls, with the same 

 bases, or septa, will be heavier; and, also, the 

 wax in these walls, not having been subjected 

 to the same pressure as the wax in thinner 

 walls, will be softer; therefore it follows that it 

 will be worked by the bees the quickest; and 

 such combs, being started first, will maintain 

 their advantage, and be fattest in the end. 



But right here it seems to me we run against 

 a stump — or, at least, I fear there is danger of 

 it. Will not those combs built from the heavy 

 foundation, or, rather, that having heavy side- 

 walls, show very objectionable "fishbone"? 

 The VanDeusen foundation, which seems to 

 have the poorest showing in the hive, may, 

 when actually in the mouth of the consumer, 



have the best showing. The VanDeusens have 

 advertised, as a special feature of their wax, 

 that it had no " fishbone." How far this is 

 true. I do not know from experience; but I do 

 do know that there is no perceptible fishbone in 

 the very light grades of foundation used by the 

 Dadants, Hunt, and ourselves. If manufac- 

 turers should agree uniformly to make their 

 surplus foundation with heavier walls— that 

 which has given, according to the experiments 

 of Mr. Taylor, fatter combs— consumers would 

 object to it as not being like the honey of their 

 fathers, and in time they would refuse to buy 

 it, on the false assumption that it was manu- 

 factured, and therefore not real honey. As 

 foundation-makers, we prefer to make our thin 

 surplus just as it has been made. 



In conclusion, let me say that I do not ques- 

 tion the correctness of Mr. Taylor's experiments 

 in the least. I accept them as actual facts, for 

 I saw the combs myself v/hile at his place this 

 summer. 



DEATH OF CHESHIKE. 



Just as we go to press we are pained to learn, 

 through the British Bee Journal, of the death 

 of Frank R. Cheshire, one of the most brilliant 

 bee-keepers that England, or, indeed, the world, 

 has ever produced. His work, "'Bees and Bee- 

 keeping," in two volumes, will stand as a mon- 

 ument to his memory long after his death. 

 Probably there has never been any thing print- 

 ed in the English language, in the way of scien- 

 tific bee-literature at least, that is the equal of 

 them. The evidence of painstaking research 

 and careful study on the part of the author 

 shines forth on every page. The presswork and 

 the beautiful engravings, many of them from 

 hand- drawings by Mr. Cheshire, and hence their 

 correctness, are works of art. Friend C. was 

 severe in some of his criticisms — perhaps un- 

 justly so in a few instances; but, taking his 

 works as a whole, bee-keepers for years to come 

 will hold his name in grateful remembrance for 

 throwing new light upon many subjects upon 

 which there had been gross ignorance or mis- 

 conception. It seems that he "died on the 16th 

 of September, while undergoing an operation 

 for a painful internal malady from which he 

 had suffered for some time." We all unite most 

 heartily with the British Bee Journal in "ten- 

 dering to his widow and family our warmest 

 sympathy in their bereavement." We may be 

 able to give a further biographical sketch, ac- 

 companied by a portrait, later on. 



CONVENTION NOTICES. 



The County Bee Association will meet at the Taibel House. 

 Mont^o^e. Pa., Oct. 2.^, at 10 a.m., for tlie election of offlcers. and 

 any other l)usine^^s that may come before the meeting. All 

 interested are invited. H. M. Srkley, Sec., Harford, Pa. 



The Ulinois State Bee-Ueepers' -Association will hold its reg- 

 ular annual meeting at the Statehouse, Springfield, Nov. 13 and 

 14. 1894. This change in the time has been made in order to se- 

 cure reduced railroad rates of 1'4 fare for the round trip. The 

 National and State Gr-iniro borh meet at the same time and 

 I)lace, and arrangenuiils are made for the same person to sign 

 all the certiticatcs. which must be asked for when the ticket is 

 purchased. Hotel rates will also be secured. 



J.\s. A. Sto.vk, Sec, Bradfordton, 111. 



