(iLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Apr. J5. 



understand Mr. Pettit aright, it is simply a thin 

 piece of perforated wood, the size of an ordinary 

 separator, placed on the outside row of sections, 

 and a bee-space from the side of the super, held 

 thus by J^-inch strips. This "divider" admits 

 of two bee-spaces and the clustering of the bees 

 therein, while the %-inch holes allow of easy 

 access to either side. With this feature applied, 

 the bees will be able to ascend along the sides 

 of the hive from the bottom -board to the top of 

 the uppermost supers. 



This device is easily and inexpensively applic- 

 able to the dovetailed super. As now arranged, 

 the follower and wedge occupy a half-inch space 

 unused by the bees. By substituting a piece of 

 perforated zinc for the A-in. follower, presto! a 

 bee-space is secured on both sides of the suoer; 

 3^-in. strips, 4K in. long, three to a side, one at 

 each end and one in the middle, stood upright, 

 to be used as wedges. So much confidence do I 

 place in the likelihood of this new contrivance 

 enabling the bees to fill and finish the outside 

 of the outside sections in an ordinary flow that 

 I have decided to give it a thorough test the 

 coming season. The long wedge with which to 

 raise the hive and guide the bees, described in 

 the first part of Mr. Pettit's article, is good; but 

 the perforated followers, securing a double bee- 

 space, warmth, clustering, and free communi- 

 cation, while avoiding brace-combs and bulg- 

 ing, is the latest and best. Like many another 

 invaluable idea, it seems so simple, withal, that 

 we are forced to exclaim, " Why didn't I think 

 of that before?" I believe the progressive bee- 

 keeper who adopts this happy hint will be a 

 great gainer thereby; and we all owe Mr. Pet- 

 tit a debt of gratitude for the generous way he 

 has given this advanced idea to the public. 



Wadena, la., Mar. 12. Geo. G. Scott. 



[I noticed the idea of the perforated follower; 

 but as practically the same sort of dpvice had 

 been used before. I did not refer to it particu- 

 larly. Perforated separators have been used 

 between sections and next lo the outside rows 

 with a bee-space on each side of the separator. 

 I can not now point to the page where such is 

 illustrated in our older literature; but our Brit- 

 ish cousins have long used the arrangement. 

 The only difference, if any, is that the perforat- 

 ed strips were used beUceen the rows of sections, 

 as well as on the outsides. But, even if old, this 

 would not in itself make the idea any the less 

 valuable. It struck me, however, that the 

 slanting bottom board has the more important 

 of the two ideas advanced bv friend Pettit. and 

 so I referred to it particularly in the footnote. 

 I am glad you have called particular attention 

 to the other idea, as do doubt it needs more em- 

 phasizing than it received on page .52.— Ed.] 



a lamp in my cellar, and had it well shaded, and 

 a good burner on the lamp; but it seemed to 

 disturb the bees, although there was a door be- 

 tween them and the lamp. This I ascertained 

 by listening through the ventilation-hole on 

 top; and I could smell the gas mixed with the 

 bees' breath. Is there any danger of keeping 

 the cellar too tight if the temperature inside 

 does not go above 3S or 38° ? 

 Gait, Mich., Jan. 5. Fred B. Gavanagh. 



[As Dr. Miller has had more experience than 

 we along these lines I asked him to reply. — Ed.] 



A lamp or oil-stove should not be used to warm 

 a cellar unless there is some way of carrying off 

 the gases that arise from combustion. A can or 

 jug of hot water is entirely safe provided the 

 water is corked in so tight that no vapor es- 

 capes. But if you use a common five-gallon tin 

 can, with boiling water corked tight, it will 

 spoil the can ; for when the water cools the sides 

 of the can will cave in— that is, in case the can 

 is only partly filled. If filled full there will be 

 no trouble. " Stoves in the cellar have probably 

 done more harm than good," as stated in A B C; 

 but there are those who have had much experi- 

 ence in their use. who insist that the harm has 

 always come from the wrong kind of stoves, as 

 oil-stoves without chimneys, or else wrong use 

 of the right kind of stoves. 



There is not often much danger of having a 

 cellar too tight, for there are usually enough 

 cracks and chinks for the air to pass through; 

 but there is danger from cold if your cellar con- 

 tinues from 35 to 38°. Better warm it up some 

 way. C. G. Miller. 



HEAT FOR BEE CELLARS. 



I see in A B C of Bee Culture that you recom- 

 mend lamps for heating bee-cellars; but as the 

 physiology says that a common lamp uses as 

 much oxygen as 12 people, I should think 

 enough more ventilation would be required to 

 make up for the extra heat of the lamp. I tried 



REPORT ON CRIMSON CLOVER IN YORK STATE. 



Your report on crimson clover. Mar. 15, re- 

 minds me of my own experience with it. I have 

 had it freeze out completely; but last year, the 

 middle or latter part of July I sowed a piece of 

 it with buckwheat, and have to-day as perfect 

 a stand of it as could be desired. The fall was 

 favorable for a good growth, which it made, 

 completely covering the ground, and even in 

 several comparatively wet spots, where it 

 would winter-kill if anywhere, it is growing 

 nicely, and is probably out of danger at this 

 writing, March 22. I think the principal cause 

 of my failure heretofore has been to sow too 

 late, not getting a perfect mat of leaves before 

 winter set In. C. Weckesser. 



Sanborn, N. Y. 



DRAWN COMBS AHEAD. 



In regard to using drawn combs in boxes I 

 have the best of luck with them. I generally 

 put one-half drawn combs and the other half 

 foundation, and I always find the drawn combs 

 filled first; and I have often wished that full 

 combs could be made for surplus and brood- 

 chamber. I think I should rather pay more for 

 the same. G. S. Brown. 



Salisbury, Vt., Feb. 19. 



