100 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 1. 



thus far commanded the highest price, and is sold ex- 

 clusively by the best and most reliable grocers here in 

 Jacksun^one house having already spoken for the 

 sale of it another season to the exclusion of all others, 

 notwithstanding honey has been sold by fai mer bee- 

 keepers at ruinous prices ; but, being produced with- 

 out separators the sections are more or less bulged, 

 and lack ihe snowy whitene.ss which characterizes 

 clover honey when removed as soon as well filled and 

 sealed. Of course, the sections being "machine clean- 

 ed " has added much to the attractiveness of my hon- 

 ey. 



The separator that Mr. Aspiiiwall uses is 

 made of tin ; and immediately opposite the up- 

 rights of the sections ol)long transverse slots 

 are cut, reaching, I should say, within half an 

 inch of each edge of the separator. On this 

 edge not cut out, '.4-i"^"h stops are fastened, 

 the purpose of which is to separate the separat- 

 or a bee-space from the sections. With this 

 device Mr. Aspinwall secures in effect sections 

 open all round. The result is that his comb 

 honey, according to Mr. Soper, is almost en- 

 tirely free from corner holes — a matter of 

 great importance. 



The super consists of two sides that are 

 clamped against the rows of sections, and the 

 sections and separators are held in position by 

 means of rods and bolts. 



Referring to the section-cleaner, an illustra- 

 tion of which appears in another column by 

 the courtesy of the Beekeepers^ Review, Mr. 

 Aspinwall says : 



I consider it indispensable in these days of close 

 competiiiun. The work is perfect as regards the sec- 

 tion edges, which are cleaned instantly, and made to 

 appear new, adding very much to the appearance of 

 the honey. The surfaces are a little slower when con- 

 siderably coated with propolis, otherwise a single 

 movement across the roll is suflficient to make them 

 while and clean. Although no difficulty has been ex- 

 perienced in holding the sections, I shall construct a 

 re.st which possibly, for novices, will be security 

 against any breakage of the sections or comb. Thus 

 far I have had no breakage whatever. The accom- 

 panying illu.>tration furni.-hes a general view of its 

 construction. It is secured to the floor by screws. 



No detailed description is given beyond 

 what is shown in the cut. Although I do not 

 know positively, I am rather of the opinion 

 that the cylinder projecting out beyond the ma- 

 chine, and on which the sections are placed to 

 be cleaned, is covered with sandpaper. The 

 wonder with me is that this paper does not be- 

 come filled with propolis so as to be practical- 

 ly inoperative. However, it evidently does its 

 work. 



Mr. Aspinwall closes his interesting article 

 by stating that " the machine is easily work- 

 ed, and its capacity is about twice that of hand 

 work. The increasing of its capacity is yet to 

 be developed." I am a little surprised that it 

 only doubh s hand work; but even then it is 

 worth all it costs; but with most bee-keep- 

 ers I am inclined to believe it would triple and 

 quadruple ordinary hand scraping; and the re- 

 sults in an}' case would be far superior. 



In our next issue I hope to show you a view 

 of the Golden section cleaner — a machine that 

 makes use of somewhat ihe same principle. 



As I look at the cut of the Aspinwall ma- 

 chine I can not help feeling that the day for 

 hand scraping of sections will soon go — no 

 more gashing into the nice honey with the 

 knife or with awkward fii gers, and no more 

 bad tinsightly stains as used to be present in 

 the bee-ways of the old-style sections. To my 



mind, the future market will demand a box en- 

 tirely clear of stain and propolis. The world 

 does move, even in beedom. 



WHAT DR. MII,LER THINKS OF MACHINE 

 CI^EANERS. 



After writing the foregoing, a letter from 

 Dr. Miller in regard to machine section-clean- 

 ers is at hand. Referring to the Golden ma- 

 chine as illustrated in the Amer. Bee Journal, 

 which, by the way, represents more nearly his 

 idea of what the machine should be, he says : 

 " I tuspect that a section-cleaner is one of the 

 things bound to come, and there won't be old 

 sewing-machines enough to go round." Then 

 referring to the Aspinwall machine which we 

 illustrated, he thinks it ought to have a sort of 

 steady rest. He writes : 



Try to sharpen a pocket-knife by holdin.g it on a 

 grindstone with one hand. It jiggles all over. Now 

 have some kind of rest to hold it steady. That's what 

 my improvement's aiming at. With Aspinwall's ar- 

 rangement you hold the weight of the section with 

 notliing to help hold it level. With my arrangement 

 the weight of the section is not held by the hand, but 

 rests on a hoiizontal surface, and that helps hold it 

 steady. C. C. Miller. 



I have a machine (in my head) that embod- 

 ies all the good points of all, and (in my head) 

 it will clean faster and better than either of the 

 ones above mentioned. It makes use of an up- 

 right revolving disk with a flat surface for the 

 sandpaper. The cost will be small — much less 

 than that of either of the machines referred to. 



A PURE-FOOD CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN WASH- 

 INGTON ; THE UNITED STATES BEE-KEEP- 

 ERS' UNION SHOULD BE REPRESENTED. 

 A CALL has been issued to all the friends of 

 pure food to meet in Washington on Wednes- 

 day, March 2d next. The object of this con- 

 gress will be to disctiss the need of legislation, 

 and how best to secure it. From the call that 

 has been made I make the following extract : 



The question of the character of the food, drink, 

 and drugs consumed by a people is unquestionably 

 one of the most important that can be di.scussed by 

 them. Adulteration, misbranding, sophistication, 

 substitution, and imitation undoubtedly exist to an 

 alarming extent, to the detriment of health, legiti- 

 mate business, and sound morals, and it becomes need- 

 ful to .secure legislation that will check this growing 

 evil and permit an honest man to do an honest busi- 

 ness. 



In regard to the apportionment of delegates 

 the Governor of each State and Territory is 

 requested to appoint ten — four agriculttirists, 

 two pharmacists, one wholesale grocer, one re- 

 tail grocer, one food manufacturer, one pro- 

 prietary mantifacturer. The Secretary of Ag- 

 riculture is to appoint five, and the Commis- 

 sioner of Internal Reventte five; the Surgeon- 

 general of the Army five; the Sttrgeon-general 

 of the Navy five; the various boards of health 

 from the various cities will also be represented, 

 as well as the boards of trade and chambers of 

 commerce. The agricultural associations will 

 also have their delegates. The National 

 Grange is to have five; each State Grange two, 

 and so on down till we get to the National 

 Bee-keepers' Association, which is to be allow- 

 ed three, and each State bee-keepers' associa- 

 tion one. 



This will certainly be a very important meet- 

 ing; and if it is thoroughly represented, much 



