316 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



only. There can be little doubt, however, 

 that sometimes the heavy losses in America 

 are due to genuine Isle of Wight disease, 

 and therefore some account of the effects of 

 treatment may prove helpful. In the eon- 



quest of disease every failure narrows the 

 field to be covered, and the lesson gained 

 may direct others to tlie path which leads to 

 success. 



Albury, England. 



AN EASILY CONSTRUCTED ELECTRIC WIRE-IMBEDDER 



BY E. L. SECHRIST 



The electric foundation-imbedder that I 

 am using is easily made from odds and 

 ends, and therefore it costs almost nothing. 



For electricity to heat the wires I use the 

 regular lighting current, running it first 

 thru a common electric flatiron, which, after 

 some experimenting, was found to provide 

 just the right amount of " resistance." 



To convey the current to the wire I use 

 what I call the goose-neck made of two 

 pieces of heavy insulated copper wire, the 

 ends of which are flattened into wide chisel 

 points at the end where they are to come in 

 contact with the wire of the frame. Press- 

 ing on the treadle beneath brings these cop- 

 per wires down in contact with the wire of 

 the frame long enough to heat the wire to 

 the desired point. 



The peculiar form on which the frame 

 is placed to do the imbedding is the result 



ROPE TO TREADLE. 



of considerable experimenting. It is a 

 3-16-inch board of a size to fit loosely inside 

 a frame. As shown, a 14-i'ich cleat is plac- 

 ed under the center while the ends are 

 nailed to the board beneath. This makes 

 an easy curve. The edges are all rounded 

 off, and the form is blocked up from the 

 table enough to make it convenient. 



The sheet of foundation is fastened in 

 the top-bar by any method, and the frame 

 placed on the form with the wires on top 

 of the foundation. The advantage over 

 other imbedders is that both hands, not one 

 only, may be used to adjust things and 

 bring the wires into close contact with the 

 foundation in case of any irregularity. 

 Whea all is ready, press the treadle until 

 the goosenecks touch the wires on the inside 

 of the frame, just where they go thru to be 

 fastened by the tacks. As soon as the points 

 ■^ are in contact with the 



wires it is a delight to 

 see that wire sink 

 down to the midrib of 

 the foundation all over 

 the sheet, while the cell 

 walls close up behind 

 it, imbedding it .so sol- 

 idly that it cannot 

 come out. 



As soon as the wire 

 is imbedded to suit 

 you, remove pressure 

 from the foot lever. 

 The connection i s 

 b r o ken, and botli 

 hands remain in place 

 on the frame holding 

 (lie wire in place until 

 it cools. All this takes 

 only an instant, and 

 the imbedding is done 

 more perfectly than I 

 can do it by using 

 (inly one hand to hold 

 the frame in place 

 while the other Iiand 

 operates the electric 

 connections. 

 FairoaJcs, Cai. 



Foot Treadle 



^ HINQEO BLOCtr 

 HOLDING GOOSE- 

 NECK Et^.acDsri 



