343 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. 15. 



arrived at the dipping-tank, it has long ago 

 been thoroughly disinfected by the long-con- 

 tinued heat of 170 degrees. The Dadants have 

 a similar melting-arrangement, and we feel 

 sure that their foundation is perfectly free from 

 any live germs. Perhaps we should remark 

 further, that the wax melted in a solar extract- 

 or might not be disinfected, and it might be a 

 wise precaution to remelt all such wax that has 

 come from diseased colonies. But as there are 

 very few apiaries indeed in the- United States 

 that have foul brood, no one need have any fear 

 about the solar wax-extractor. It will proJxi- 

 hly kill the germs, but may not. 



WHAT WE USE IS THE BEST. 



We like to think that the things ive use are 

 the best. It is not comfortable to think that 

 somebody else is using devices or implements 

 vastly better than our own. We use and rec- 

 ommend the Victor Spring-fork Safety bicycle. 

 We think it is the best of all machines of that 

 description. But it may be it is because we 

 own one, and do not like to tliink the other fel- 

 low has a better one. Those of us who have 

 heew using loose frames may feel a little uneasy 

 in the thought that Hxed frames may one day 

 be the frame. It would be very expensive to 

 change, and so we like to persuade ourselves 

 that what we use is just as good, and a little 

 better. Be that as it may. it is well we do not 

 change at every breath of wind. 



closed-end frames, and changing over 

 whole apiaries. 



Now that the advantages of fixed frames are 

 being set forth, do not let any bee-keeper own- 

 ing KM) colonies on loose frames be foolish 

 enough to change over his whole apiary to 

 that style of frame. It has been demonstrated 

 over and over again, that bees will make honey 

 for their owners, in loose frames and in fixed 

 frames; and the frame we should use is the one 

 that affords the most convenience and accom- 

 modation. The frame that the apiarist can 

 manipulate the easiest and the most rapidly, 

 will, of course, make a little more money for him, 

 because less labor is required. We have men- 

 tioned this two or three times already; but for 

 the sake of some who are too enthusiastic, or in- 

 clint^d to be hasty, we think it will bear repeat- 

 ing again. 



WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH OUR PATENT OF- 

 FICE ? 



The other day an attorney sent us drawings 

 and specifications of a patent that had just 

 been issued to his client, on a bee-keeping ap- 

 pliance. Just out of curiosity we thought we 

 would look the matter up. as we were sure it 

 was old. We discovered that there were two 

 other patents on the same thing, and the dates 

 of the three patents are not more than a month 

 apart, in the same year. 



Somebody is going to lose money if one of tne 

 trio " goes to the courts." Now, this is not one 

 instance, but one out of many that have come 

 to our knowledge; and if any of our readers 

 wish to know what the three patents arc on we 

 can inform them by letter; for, to make the 

 thing public hei-e, might make something of an 

 uproar in camp. E. R. R. 



LOOKING over BACK VOLUMES OF BEE-.TOUR- 

 NALS; A HINT TO WOULD-BE INVENTORS. 



It is real fun to look back through the old 

 volumes. Problems that now seem to be quite 

 fully solved, were, years ago, discussed, and 

 seemed to be in a maze of mystery. Verily the 

 world is moving, in spite; of the fact that some- 

 limes we do not seem to arrive at the solution 

 of many old problems. It is interesting to see 



how the Italians were opposed. By some they 

 were accounted as almost worthless. Founda- 

 tion was another thing that had to tight its 

 way inch by inch, until it is now regarded as 

 one of the indispensables. Even the honey- 

 extractor was called a " honey-slinging ma- 

 chine," and was regarded as worthless. A 

 glance through the old volumes shows us that 

 what we regard nowadays as entirely new was 

 invented, desci'ibed, illustrated, praised, and 

 condemned, years and years ago. When our 

 editors declare a thing to be old, it almost gives 

 offense. Those of us who aspire to be invent- 

 ors, and to be the originators of something 

 new, should first purchase a set of old bee- 

 journals and look them over, and see what has 

 been invented. A mere skimming will not an- 

 swer. We must scan page by page and para- 

 graph by paragraph. 



SILVER-PLATING OUTFITS; MORE ABOUT THE 

 LAKESIDE ELECTRIC CO., P:NGLEW00D, ILL. 



Some of the friends thought I was a little 

 hasty in pronouncing this whole business a 

 fraud and a swindle from beginning to end. 

 When I put in the caution on page 240, March 

 15, I felt satisfied that the whole thing emanat- 

 ed from J. M. Bain, Zanesville, O., as it had so 

 plainly on the face of it the ear-marks of his 

 plan of swindling. Just as we go to press we 

 are informed that Postmaster-General Wana- 

 maker has forbidden any mails to be delivered 

 to W. H. Griffith & Co., Zanesville Chemical 

 Co.. Bain & Co., and J. M. Bain. All letters ad- 

 dre^ed to any of the above are to be returned 

 to the sender, with the word " Fraudulent " 

 stamped across the envelope. In one single 

 day over ^800 was paid out to Bain. The Engle- 

 wood, 111., institution is only a branch of the 

 same concern. Bain has started out with so 

 many addresses and so many different places, 

 that one needs to look carefully before sending 

 him money. As the U. S. courts are after him, 

 his swindling is probably nearly if not quite at 

 an end. 



PBICE LISTS RECEIVED, 



J. M. Young. Plattsmoiith, Neb. 



W. H. Biigrht, Mazeppa, Minn. 



.A. G.Hill. KendallviUe.Ind. , 



W. H. Norton, Skowhegan, Me.' 



J. M. Kinzie. Rochester, Mioh. 



J H. M Cook, 78 Barclay St., New York. 



W. J. Valentine, Hagerstown. Md, 



N. D. West. Middlebur^h, N. Y., cell-protectors. 



The following were printed here: 



Leininger Bros., Fort Jennings, O. 



S. R. Holbert, Monangah, W. Va. 



CONVENTION NOTICES. 



The Central Michigan Bee-keepers' Association will meet at 

 Pioneer Room, Capitol, Wed., May 6, 1891. All are inv ted. 



W. A. Barnes, Sec, Lansing. 



The Bee-keepers' Association and Fair will be open May 6. 

 Open to all. H. Smith, Sec'y. 



Ionia, Mich. 



gPECI^L ]\[0WICEg. 



THE HONEY-BEE. 



The price of the above work by Thos. Wm. Cowan, 

 mentioned elsewhere, will be $1.00, instead of 75 cts. 

 as formerly announced. 



FIGWORT, OR SIMPSON HONEY-PLANT SEED WANTED. 



If any of you have any, even a little pinch, we 

 should 1)8 glad to get it, as we are not able to furnish 

 even the five-cent packages. 



