NOVBMBKR, 1917 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



895 



Full Values in 



i 44 



falcon'' Beekeepers' Supplies 



For the last forty years during our manufacture of "FALCON" supplies it 

 has been our endeavor to place uoon the market the very best possible line of supplies, 

 and wo pride ourselves in having accomplished this. "FALCON" supplies have not 

 only been recognized as the best in this country, but also a leader in other countries. 

 Nothing expresses the superioiity of the "FALCON" ware better than the many kind 

 and pleasing words we receive fro.m our satisfied customers, and the ever-increasine 

 demand for "FALCON" supplies. 



The season is drawing nearer and beekeepers should endeavor to order early. By 

 making up your wants now you will be better fitted to go into the season with a view 

 of not only obtaining a bigger crop but to facilitate matters thiuout the season. If 

 you will make up a list of requirements for quotation we shall be glad to quotfc. 



Red Catalog, postpaid Dealers Everywhere " Simplified Beekeeping," postpaid 



W. T. FALCONER MFG. COMPANY, FALCONER, NEW YORK 



where the sond beehives come from. 



Around the Office — Continued 



His son ;iiid Mel prove that skunks can be man- 

 liandled and the man-handlers live tliru it, too. 



temper, capture him barehanded, and not 

 have to sleep in the barn for a week after- 

 ward, either. Mel doesn 't seem able to tell 

 just how he does this. Ask him, and he'll 

 tell you experience is a mighty great teach- 

 er. His exact words are: "Some experi- 

 ence is necessary to know just when to grab 

 a skunk . by the tail, but a plaguey sight 

 more is necessary to know when NOT to." 

 There doesn't seem to be any snake-charm- 

 ing business about it. He says you mustn 't 

 irritate the skunk unduly. Approach him 

 leisurely and pleasantly, allaying any sus- 

 picions of hostility that may get started in 

 the skunk 's mental processes. Trot along 

 beside him for awhile in a playful manner — 



but always stop when he does, and take im- 

 mediate observations as to whether his tail 

 is over elevated a little and whether he is 

 contemporaneously and earnesitly aiming at 

 you over his right fore shoulder. If he is, 

 go away immediately and for quite a little 

 while. Don't go up at such a time and 

 harshly tread on him continuously nor try 

 to rub his ears together. It won't work — 

 that is, the way you would have it work, 

 for the skunk is likely not to like it. So 

 wait in a perfectly friendly manner just out 

 of range till the storm signals are lowered, 

 and then when he has started along again 

 resume your position at his side (do this 

 rather nonchalantly and indifferently). 

 Now trot along beside him as before until 

 such time as you feel you have won his 

 entire confidence. About this time also win 

 a sure and very sudden hold on his tail; 

 hoist quickly with a deft upward upheaval 

 of the arm and body — and there you have 

 hi in amid air, possibly a little surprised but 

 not resenting it so much as you might think. 

 That, in brief, is Mel's system in this very 

 hair-trigger business. But there is" one ac- 

 companying theory of this system of Mel's, 

 namely, that a skunk can't transact business 

 with all his feet clear of the ground, that 

 Mel says ain 't so. He learned it wasn 't so 

 by finding it out. It was some years ago. 

 A. neighbor of his had got or found a skunk 

 in a sort of big pot-hole in the ground from 

 Vvhich it couldn't get out. He at once be- 

 came avaricious for skunk fur, disregardful 

 of any rights the skunk might have in the 

 matter, and was wondering how he could 

 get the skunk out of the pot-hole and re- 

 duce him to good skinning condition with- 

 out being too heavily penalized in the pro- 

 cess. It was just then that Mel (bearing 

 even in those far years a local reputation as 

 a skunkologist and odorless operator) came 

 along. His neighbor put the whole case up 

 to him — aspirations foi- acquisition of skunk 

 fur without too much skunk, misgivings in 



