482 



augments the confusion and makes it hard 

 for the less up-to-date beeman to make a 

 choice. 



Altho our country is not a large one, 

 there is a perceptible difference in the cli- 

 matic condition of some parts of it as com- 

 pared with others, and the bee-flora espe- 

 cially is not the same in all parts of it. 

 Locality, therefore, plays a role with us as 

 well as in the land of the stars and stripes ; 

 but it seems that but little attention is paid 

 to this fact by our dealers in beekeepers' 

 supplies. Once their hives and fixtures have 

 given fair results in one locality, they seem 

 to conclude that their system is the best for 

 the whole country. But the beekeeper may 

 find out the contrary to his sorrow. Our 

 beekeepers, not being men of means as a 

 rule, have to stick to the hive first chosen, 

 even if it is not satisfactory ; and the worst 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



of it yet is that when, for some reason or 

 other, a dealer goes out of the market, his 

 hive and fixtures, as a rule, disappear with 

 him, and the beekeeper is put to a strait 

 for obtaining his supplies. 



The skep has none of the above disad- 

 vantages. It answers as well on the low 

 humid sea-coast as on the inland plains and 

 heather-fields. Against the confusion in the 

 choice of a hive stands the simplicity of the 

 skep ; and it stands to reason that, as long 

 as the majority of our beekeepers are not 

 convinced of the advantages of hive-manip- 

 ulation, the rearing of better queens, etc., 

 the skep will hold its sway in this country. 

 For this reason alone, if for no other, it is 

 to be considered urgently desirable for our 

 government to consider seriously the better 

 instruction of our beekeepers. 



Soest, Holland. 



A ROOMY AND CONVENIENT EXTRACTING-HOUSE ON WHEELS 



BY EARL C. BIDDICK 



My movable extracting-room is 8 feet 

 wide, 16 long, and 6 high. It is screened 

 half way on each side, so that the canvas 

 may be rolled up, making it a cool and com- 

 fortable place in which to work. 



There are two screen-doors — one where 

 I am standing, and the other on the right 



side at the center, so that the honey-supers 

 may be carried in from that side. 



The 2 x 8's which rest on the bolsters must 

 be the same width as the bolsters, to prevent 

 it from tipping easily. The 2 x 4's are fast- 

 ened to the rack with brace-rods, and square 

 irons bolted. 



Earl Biddick's extracting-wagon. A framework of 2 x 4 material is built on a 8 x 16-foot platform, 

 and covered with canvas. There is plefltjr of room for engine, eight-frame extractor, uucapping-box, etc. 



