JUNE 15, 1914 



461 



that it will not melt the foundation. A 

 board is used about ^/4 inch smaller than 

 the inside of the frame, and thick enough 

 to hold the foundation in the middle of the 

 top-bar. On the two long sides of the 

 board is nailed a thin lath a little longer 

 than the frame, and extending about one- 

 half inch over the sides. The foundation is 

 laid on the board and the wired frame upon 

 it, care being taken that the sheet touch the 

 top-bar the entire length. Board and frame 

 are firmly held in the left hand with the 

 top-bar down, and so inclined that the melt- 

 ed wax poured in the upper corner will run 

 down rapidly. It is better not to pour too 

 much wax on one place, as there is dangei 

 of the foundation melting at that point. 

 Keep the hot wax constantly pouring out i.' 

 a thin stream. We have a handy alcohol- 

 lamp with a spoon that can be removed, 

 which is used to melt and pour the wax on 

 the top-bar. When the spoon is removed, tlio 

 wire-imbedder may be heated on the flame. 

 After one side of the foundation is fast- 

 ened, the board is removed and the frame 

 held in the left hand in such a position that, 

 with the right hand, melted wax can be 

 poured on as before. The lamp is allowed 

 to burn, and the flame is regulated to suit. 

 Lamp and spoon are used as one piece. The 

 spoon is removed when wii-ing foundation, 

 and the imbedder put in its place. The one 

 I use has V-shaped grooves in the teeth so 

 the wheel can't slip so readily. Between 

 the handle and the center of the wheel there 

 is an extra-heavy metal part that helps tc 

 keep the teeth at the desired temperature. 



UNCAPPING-FORKS. 



I do not use an uncapping-knife, but a 

 fork constructed for that purpose. I can 

 uncap as rapidly with it, because I am not 

 used to the knife. No warm water is 

 needed. 



A NICE CHRISTMAS GIFT. 



Queen Victoria, of Sweden, gave the 

 Crown Prince (heir apparent) a Christmas 

 present of a cjuadruple hive (four hives 

 built in one), with roof and base, together 

 with the frames and tools necessai"y. xi 

 was made in Baden. She sent a Swedish 

 beekeeper to Baden last summer to learn 

 how beekeeijing is carried on, and to see 

 what is being done there to foster and to 

 advance the interests of beekeepers. Her 

 Majesty, no doubt, has risen in the estima- 

 tion of all beekeepers. — Die Biene u. i. 

 Zuchf. 



TVATER FOR BEES. 



German bee-journals mention the neces- 

 sity of providing water for bees where na- 

 ture does not supply it near the apiary. A 



dish with something in it, such as small 

 stri])s of wood, excelsior, straw, etc., to 

 prevent the bees from drowning, will suf- 

 fice. A couple of barrels with arrangement 

 for continual drip (a spigot, cock, or si- 

 phon) would be convenient for large api- 

 aries such you have in America. The bai*rel 

 should stand on a foundation 11/2 or 2 feet 

 high. The drip should fall on a slanting 

 board with rills, or be covered with gunny 

 sack, etc. When bees have young brood 

 they need much water. A large force of 

 bees is needed in the apiary to carry water. 

 In early spring the weather often changes 

 suddenly, and many water-carriers cannot 

 return if they have to go a considerable 

 distance. We often have very bad weather 

 for several daj-s in succession. It is not 

 only the loss when bees are more valuable 

 than at any other time, but the extra work 

 saved to the bees would pay for the trouble 

 of providing water in one or more places 

 in the apiary. Warm water at about 70 

 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is recom- 

 mended. A beekeeper can readily make an 

 arrangement for warming it. A kerosene- 

 lamp will supply the heat very cheaply. 



OBSERVATION STATIONS. 



In many of the provinces observation 

 stations have been established. A hive on 

 scales is weighed once or twice daily during 

 a part of the year. The number of days 

 and hours during which the bees fly, pre- 

 vailing winds, the amount of rainfall, etc., 

 are noted. These observations are sent 

 monthly to the chief of observers, who 

 tabulates the results and publishes them 

 with comments. Bavaria has 31 such vol- 

 unteer observers in the various parts of the 

 kingdom. Switzerland has 39 such stations. 

 The chief, Mr. Juestrieh, in his annual le 

 port in the Schw. Bztg., states that the SQ 

 stations have 52 hives on scales, 44 of these 

 having their frames in an upright positioi), 

 and eight in the same way that you have 

 yours. The top-bar is longer than <he e'^I. 

 The average monthlj^ consumption for colo- 

 nies shown was — 



November, 710 gT., or 1 6-10 lbs. 



December, 688 gr., or 1^/2 lbs. 



January, 794 gr., or 1% lbs. 



The average consumption for ten years 

 was — 



November, 741 gr. 



December. 888 gr. 



January, 956 gr. 



In Bavaria the average given for 1911 

 was — 



November, 595 gr. 



December, 446 gr. 



In 1913, 



November, 371 gr. 



