March, 1917 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



181 



o 



NE would al- 



THE ROOT WINTER CASE 



that the title 

 as above given 

 would indicate 

 that the A. I. 

 Root Co. had de- 

 signed a new win- 

 ter case; but the 



fact is, the case in question is the invention 

 of C. H. Root, of Red Bank, N. J., who is 

 in no way connected with the Roots at 

 Medina. 



While we were attending the New Jersey 

 convention a number of different beekeep- 

 ers mentioned the Root winter case. At 

 first we were a little puzzled to know what 

 they were referring to. Finally it develop- 

 ed that it was not a Medina affair but the 

 invention of C. H. Root, one of the largest 

 honey-producers in New Jersey, and an 

 enthusiastic beekeeper — a man of an in- 

 ventive turn of mind, and a mechanic 

 withal. 



After a spirited discussion on wintering 

 and winter packing, several beekeepers ask- 

 ed if we had seen the Root winter case. So 

 much was ?aid in its favor that we were in- 

 terested and asked to see it. 



Mr. E. G. Carr, the secretary, said that 

 at the New Jersey exjieriment apiary he 

 had had a number of these Root cases, and 



A Design Perfected by C. H. Root, 



of 'ISlew Jersey, 'whereby there is no 



Loose 'backing •Material 



By E. R. Root 



suggested that 

 those of us who 

 w e r e interested 

 might go out to 

 t lie experimen,t 

 yard the follow- 

 ing morning, 

 which we did be- 

 fore the morning 

 session was called to order. 



The subjoined illustration will give the 

 result of our visit. Fig. 1 shows Mr. C. H. 

 Root standing back of bis winter case as 

 dissected and removed from the right-hand 

 hive in the foreground. Fig. 2 shows a 

 closer view of the double-walled case that 

 surrounds the brood-nest. It will be noted 

 that it is made of % lumber, with a recess 

 cut out of the front to provide for an en- 

 trance. 



Fig. 1. — C. H. Root and his winter case. 



Fig. 2. — Detail of the C. H. Root winter case. 



Mr. Root is a thoro believer in winter 

 packing, even in as mild a climate as that 

 of New Jersey. To that end he not only 

 regards it as important to have the sides 

 and top of the hive packed, but even the 

 bottom as well. The singie-walled hive 

 rests on a hive-stand which is filled with 

 packing material when the hive is set on 

 top. 



The ease surrounding the brood-nest as 

 shown in Fig. 2 is double-walled with three- 

 inch packing between the walls. The one 

 shown in the illustration is made up of 

 cheap lumber; and while it is not of the 

 exact detail recommended by Mr. Root, it 

 shows vei-y well the principle. The ring 

 that surrounds the brood-nest makes a nice 

 and -close fit; that is to say. there is just 

 clearance, and that is all, between the hive 

 and the surrounding case. It is deeper than 

 the inner hive by about two inches. 



It will be noted in Fig. 1 that there is a 

 cleat nailed on the side of the hive-stand. 

 There is supposed to be a corresponding 

 cleat on the other side and one in tlic rear. 



