1891 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



r31 



such an extent that the white-clover honey 

 crop was an entire failure. Bee-keepers are 

 not disposed to talk much about their i)ets when 

 there is but little sign of business in the apiary, 

 so we pursued the even tenor of our journey, 

 which allowed iis to pass over another of those 

 beautiful New York lakes— the world-renowned 

 Chautauqua. The thousands of readers and 

 gi-aduates of the Chautauqua Literary and Sci- 

 entific Circle think of the assembly grounds lo- 

 cated here as their ttlrna mater, and to make at 



W. T. FAT.COXER & CO. S FACTOKY. FROM A HAWKEYE PHOTO 



wax cylinder, in a theater in New York. The 

 machine was adjusted, and the Rambler was 

 seated before it. with tubes inserted in his ears. 

 The phone has to be run at a very even speed, 

 and a little water-motor here supplies the pow- 

 er: but in many places electricity is more avail- 

 able, and is the motive power. Friend F. then 

 touched the lever. We heard at first a gur- 

 gling sound, and a splash and a bang: and then 

 a whole orchestra was playing in our ears. 

 Then the song commenced, and it was repro- 

 duced perfectly. We arose from 

 our first interview with the phono- 

 graph with a sort of awe-struck 

 feeling, not only toward the in- 

 vention and the inventor, but to- 

 ward the age in which we live. 



Mr. Falconer is not much of a 

 liee-manager himself. His time is 

 devoted to the mechanical produc- 

 tions, while his partner. Mr. D. E. 

 ^leiTill. gives a portion of his time 

 to the bees, and edits the American 

 Bec-kccper. which seems to have a 

 liealthy circulation. The partner 

 was away at the time of our call, 

 engaged in seeing to the next issue 

 of the Bee-keeper, which is print- 

 ed in Jamestown. 



We found here, as elsewhere upon 

 our journey, a little complaint 

 about the unfavorable outlook for 

 the season, and which is usually 

 felt at the supply-factory as the 

 season advances. For the contin- 

 ued prosperity of the supply-dealer 



least one pilgrimage here while pursuing their 

 course of studies. The city of Jamestown is 

 very pleasantly located at the eastern end of 

 the lake, and is known to all readers of bee-lit- 

 erature as the address of W. T. Falconer, the 

 bee-hive manufacturer, though his home and 

 factory are two miles away in the little village 

 of Falconer. In ISTii the making of bee-hives 

 was begun in a small m ay. in connection with a 

 custom sawmill, and, we believe, a sash and 

 blind factory. The bee-hive factoi-y has in- 

 creased from year to year. Several enlarge- 

 ments have been made, until Mr. F. has one of 

 the largest plants in the Eastern States, and 

 probably as large as any in the country in the 

 special line of bee-hives and sections. The fac- 

 tory is equipped with fine machinery, and ^Ir. 

 F. sustains a reputation for good work. His 

 sections ai'e made from seasoned lumber, and a 

 stroll through his lumber-yard will convince 

 any one that he is ready to meet the most ur- 

 gent demand. The idea of working up such 

 piles of lumber into sections gives one an idea of 

 the number of bee-keepers and the extent of the 

 business. Mr. F. thinks he can not make his 

 sections smooth enough with a saw. so they are 

 all run through a planer. The same care is ex- 

 ercised through all bee-hive work: and while 

 many kinds of hives are made, the great run 

 during the past two seasons has been upon the 

 Dovetailed hive. At the time of our visit, a 

 thin ^-inch-walled Dovetailed hive was being 

 constructed, over which a thin outside case 

 would be used in the winter. The Rambler was 

 much pleased with this hive, and believes it is 

 an experiment in the right direction. 



The tin department of the factory was rather 

 light, as no smokers nor extractors were manu- 

 factured, but were kept in stock in great varie- 

 ty. The wax department was not very lively, 

 but there were tons of wax ready to be worked 

 into foundation. 



In the office we were treated to a song from 

 the phonograph. This song was taken on a 



RAMBLER INTERVIEWS THE PHOXOGRAPH. 



and the honey-producer, may there be more 

 bountiful honey seasons is the earnest wish of 

 the Rambler. 



[The Hawkeye photograph of Falconer's 

 place of business was not very clear, hence we 

 had to use zinc etching. We should have pre- 

 ferred to give our readers a real view by the 

 half-tone process. Our business transactions 

 with the W. T. Falconer Co. have been the 

 pleasantest: and we are glad to note that they 

 have built up their business by square dealing 

 and good goods. Gleanings wishes them more 

 and greater prosperity, and a booming circula- 

 tion to the American Bee-keeper, of which they 

 are the publishers.] 



