72 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 15 



A CHIAP BUT KP'FECTIVE COVER. 



Ou ^oing outside the workshop I noticed 

 that the hives had a rathtr peculiar cover. 

 Upon examining one of them I found that it 

 consisted of merely a frame upon which 

 was tacked a piece of canvas (see Fig. 2). 

 This canvas, after beicg stretched on the 

 frame, is then dipped in a solution of bees- 

 wax ar d resin, making it perfectly water- 

 tight. It was so simple that my first thought 

 was that it must be good for nothing; but 

 after being told that over fifty had been in 

 constant use, I changed my mind somewhat. 

 In summer it is obvious that, with but one 

 thickness of canvas to shield them from the 

 sun, the bees would become too warm; 

 therefore a small shade-board of thin wood 

 is plicfd on t.jp, and separated from the 

 canvHs by two cleats, thus making a venti- 

 lated cover. In winter Mr. Starkey packs 

 his hives in such a way that the bees are 

 kept warm. 



While I would not recommend this cover 

 as described, I think that it is a valuable 

 susi'gestion. Just now, when the price of 

 lumber is increasing so rapidly, why would 

 it not be a good plan to make our hivecov- 

 ers of the cheapest of wood in narrow pieces, 

 and then add a thickness of canvas which 

 may be dipped in some such preparation as 

 will make it water- proof? In this way a 

 cheap cover could be obtained which would 

 neither warp, twist, nor leak. This meth- 

 od is already used with good success in 

 Colorado; but the canvas is painted instead 

 of being dipped in the beeswax and resin. 



WINTHRING BEES IN OUTSIDE SHELTER. 



Although the form of packing bees for 



winter, as shown in Fig. 3, is old, yet I 

 think it deserves mention. Fifty-six colonies 

 are thus placed together, packed with 

 leaves, and the whole covered with a cheap 

 roof of tar-paper. Later in the year a load 

 of haj' will be spread around on top after a 

 few boards have been arranged in such a 

 wa3' as to give ventilation. 



In the foreground of Fig. 3 will be noticed 

 a white tool-stand which holds every thing 

 from smoker to tacks. On one end of this, 

 as shown, are two projections which will 

 hold two frames of bees. This is a very 

 handy arrangement, for it does away with 

 standing frames on the ground about the 

 hives. 



THE OYSTER-PAIL AS A HONEY- PACKAGE. 



The idea about the yard which interested 

 me most was Mr. Starkey's method of put- 

 ting up his extracted honey; in fact, I was 

 so much interested in it that I myself 

 have been experimenting for several weeks 

 with this same idea, which consists in put- 

 ting up the honey in the ordinary oyster- 

 pail. I am well aware of the fact that 

 this has been tried before; but I do not be- 

 lieve it has been thoroughly tried in a com- 

 munity where people are looking for can- 

 died honey. The general plan is similar 

 to that used by Mr. Aikin, the honey being 

 poured into the paper packages and allowed 

 to candy. Fig. 5 shows a crate of the hon- 

 ey in the oyster pails, candied solid, and 

 ready for market. After this stage has 

 been reached, the cardboard can be cut 

 down one side, and the whole peeled off, 

 leaving a form as shown in Fig. 6. It 

 seems to me that honey on a plate in this 



FIG. 3. — HIVES WINTER-PACKED UNDER SHEDS ; TOOL-STAND AND SEAT IV THE FOREGROUND. 



