GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 1. 



You know that, and you ought also to know 

 that not only for cheapness but for the bees and 

 the bee-keeper, a top-bar should be flat on 

 •every side. You recommend a top-bar % inch 

 thick, to prevent brace-combs. I, at least, 

 think that is why you make bars so thick, 

 iirace-combs give me but little trouble. It's 

 the ibur?--combs that are so troublesome; and a 

 13s width of top-bar and i^-inch space between 

 stories practically fixes them. There's a limit 

 to every thing. Frames were made to hold 

 combs of brood and honey; and when we have 

 gone beyond the requisite strength necessary, 

 ■we have gone beyond the limits. If a top-bar 

 Is ^ inch thicker than necessary, it means that 

 much waste on each and every frame, hive- 

 ends, and hive-sides; lower story and upper 

 <when extracting), or enough useless lumber to 

 make a board, and binding for a bee-escape. 



Dr. Miller thinks he wants a thick top-bar 

 for the bees to wipe their feet on. If he's will- 

 ing to pay for lumber for that purpose, he needs 

 to be told that he had better put it on the under 

 side of the sections, and let it support them. 

 Also that, in a couple of years, a top-bar will be 

 too dirty to wipe feet on. It gels dirty in the 

 hive, never outside, and it is in a hive 365 days 

 In a year, while if it is in the super it need not 

 be on the hive a tenth that long. To recom- 

 mend a top-bar X thick for the L. frame is as 

 bad as the advice the Dadants gave us when 

 they told us to nail a second board on the back 

 side of hives to keep the cold northwest winds 

 off. Why didn't they tell us to make that part 

 •of the hive out of plank? It would have been 

 Just as well, and better, on account of rotting! 

 But then the Dadants are all right, for you know 

 they told us in the back part of their book, 

 that, from all the advice and information we 

 received, we should always try to sift the grain 

 from the chaff' — their own included. 



I have always felt and held it as a right, that, 

 if one gets up a useful implement, and it is 

 manufactured and used by many, the inventor 

 should have some compensation. But I'm go- 

 ing to say that, if this or any of the other ma- 

 chines I have sent you in the past should suit 

 you, and you felt that you would like to manu- 

 facture them, do so; and if you meet with many 

 sales, and then feel that you can pay something, 

 all right and well. But if you should not feel 

 that way, and should sell many machines, all 

 would be well also. In this last machine sent 

 you, you'll find that three lamps heat the plate 

 none too hot. A gasoline-burner, made express- 

 ly for the purpose, would be better; but for my- 

 self I made the lamps do nicely in putting in 

 nearly 100 lbs. of foundation. I could make a 

 better machine than this, especially with a 

 burner, but it would not be so simple and cheap. 



Coleta, III., Aug. 1.5. 



[The principle of the machine sent by Mr. 

 Anthony will be understood when I say that it 

 Is the same as our Daisy foundation-fastener. 



shown on page 19 of our catalog, or those fas- 

 teners that make use of a heated plate, with 

 this difference, that it is cotisiructed on a larger 

 scale. The plate is as wide o*" as long as the 

 edge of the foundation to be fastened to the 

 brood-frame top-bar, and for this reason re- 

 quires three lamps to heat the plate along its 

 entire edge. I did not try the machine, fori 

 was satisfied that it would work; but I do not 

 think it could ever come into general use, on 

 account of its expense and the trouble with 

 fussing with three kerosene-lamps. It would 

 cost, when placed upon the market, not much 

 short of $."^.00; it is bulky, and I doubt whether 

 it will do the work faster than the little foun- 

 dation-rollers costing only 15 cts., and which 

 are small enough to be put into the pocket. 

 No, friend A., if some have gone to extremes in 

 the depth of top-bars, you have gone to ex- 

 tremes in the construction of so elaborate a 

 machine. 



But I like your style of talking out plain, 

 even if you do tread on my toes some. If I 

 thought you were right I would not hesitate to 

 recommend the change to a thinner bar. Per- 

 haps the logic of time may demonstrate the 

 wisdom of striking a " happy medium," or. say, 

 %_ inch thick instead of K: but. so far as I can 

 discover, the last-named dispenses with brace- 

 combs, while the other does not. 



I am sure we all appreciate your generous 

 desire to contribute to the fraternity whatever 

 may be found to be of value, and hope the man- 

 ufacturer will be equally generous on his part. 

 We have endeavored to do so here at the Home 

 of the Honey-bees, as our books will show.— Ed.] 



AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE TOWNSEND SECTION- 

 FORMER. 



I have used for the last three years a section- 

 former like the one described in Gleanings, 

 and can say that it is about perfect. I put 

 mine on a bench vertically, and work it with a 

 pedal, leaving both hands free to handle the 

 sections. A hickory spring is attached to the 

 lever, and brings it back into position. The 



whole thing cost me only 25 cts. Put the sec- 

 tions in front of the block, groove up, and see 

 how fast you can fold them. You will be 

 astonished. G. Gross. 



Milford, Wis., Aug. 13. 



[Since I gave a cut and description of the 

 Townsend former, two others, including friend 

 G., write that they have been using this prin- 



