GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Another correspondent believes that, in 

 addition to requeening, the McEvoy treat- 

 ment with tAvo shakings should be used, and 

 the hives disinfected. 



Quite a large number, including Mr. Pres- 

 sler, believe that the Alexander treatment 

 is quite effective. 



We are surprised at the amount of testi- 

 mony that seems to favor Dr. Miller's views 

 as expressed in one of his Stray Straws in 

 this issue — namely, that it is not necessary 

 to destroy the combs. In the midst of tho 

 mass of this conflicting testimony the read- 

 er will have to exercise his judgment in the 

 matter so far as the law and the inspectors 

 will permit. 



Tn the mean time the reader is referred 

 to one of Dr. Miller's paragraphs on this 

 subject in this issue that is characteristic 

 of the man. Verily, the sage of Marengo 

 will never grow old. If there was ever a 

 man who is able to carry a smile into 

 printed matter it is he. 



A Safety-first Safety-valve 



Two beekeepers have had trouble with 

 their steam uneapping-knives, in that the 

 opening in the end of the knife became 

 clogged and the steam pressure in the boiler 

 increased enough to burst the boiler. It is 

 next to impossible to have any such trouble 

 with the ordinary amount cf fire used under 

 one of these little boilers unless the opening 

 at the point of the knife for the escape of 

 the steam becomes clogged up. In ordinary 

 use this opening will be kept clear; but if 

 the knife is used to push away the capping's 

 or slumgum in the capping-melter, especial- 

 ly when the knife itself is cold before steam 

 is up, some of the melted wax, or fibrous 

 material from the cocoons, may clog the 

 opening in the point of the knife so that 

 the steam cannot circulate. Consequently, 

 unless the rubber hose blows off the tube, 

 either at the knife or at the boiler, some- 

 thing will surely " happen." Of course, a 

 wooden paddle is the proper implement to 

 use to poke away the accumulation of cap- 

 ping-s, altho when the knife is hot and steam 

 is issuing from the point, there is vei-y little 

 danger that it will get clogged up ; but to be 

 on the safe side we believe that a safety 

 valve should be applied. If a common tea- 

 kettle is used for a boiler — and, by the way, 

 this makes one of the vt^ry best boilers im- 

 aginable — there is not much danger of a 

 serious explosion, for the cap will be forced 

 out before the steam pressure reaches a 

 really dangerous point. As has been ex- 

 plained before in these columns, if a tea- 



kettle is used the cap should be fitted in 

 tightly enough to hold the steam, by means 

 of several layers of cheese-cloth. 



A large cork, at least an inch in diameter, 

 if not pushed in too tightly, works after a 

 fashion ; but for a ten-pound pail, a gallon 

 honey-can, or copper can made for the pur- 

 pose, we recommend the following arrange- 

 ment for a safety valve. 



Steam honey-knife boiler, showing construction of 

 safety valve. A, clip which holds super-spring to 

 adjusting-screw. B, super spring. C, tin cap cov- 

 ering 1-inch brass tuhe. D, rubber packing within 

 tin cap. 



The tube for the hose should be soldered 

 at one side of the can or boiler, as indicated 

 in the accompanyning sketch. About an 

 inch and a half from the opening where the 

 boiler is filled, solder an ordinary brass 

 binding-screw from the carbon of an old 

 dry battery. Hunt up u. round tin " salve- 

 box," the cover of which is just large enough 

 to fit over the opening in the boiler, and cut 

 a round piece of rubber packing that will 

 just fit inside. If none of this is at hand, 

 heavy cardboard will answer nearly as well. 

 See C and D in the drawing. 



Out of lieavy tin make a little clip. A, 

 and punch a hole in one end so it will just 

 sliiD over the screw before mentioned. When 

 I lie super spring is in position, as shown, 

 ]M\t on the tin clip. A, and turn down the 

 bi ass nut until there is some tension on the 

 spring — just enough to keep it in position. 

 When you use the knife, if steam leaks out 

 under the cap turn the screw down a little 

 more. 



With this arrangement, in case anything 

 should go wrong with the knife, the steam, 

 when the pressure increases somewhat, will 

 leak out under the cap. Furthermore, this 

 sort of arrangement is far easier to open 

 up for the purpose of adding more water. 

 There is no hot slippery cap to unscrew, 

 for the super spring can be pushed back 

 away from the tin cap. It is not even nec- 

 essary to change the adjustment of the 

 screw. 



