96 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 15 



previous i^sue, from Mr. Samuel Simmins, 

 of England, he says he has tried a treat- 

 ment like the Alexander, and found it to be 

 effective with foul brood. If this is true, it 

 is rather unfortunate that we did not discov- 

 er the fact sooner, and thus save thousands 

 and perhaps millions of otherwise good 

 combs that brought only a tithe of their 

 real value when rendered up into wax. 



The rearing of queens, and having an 

 abundance of them, is very simple as Mr. 

 Alexander manages. This he will shortly 

 explain.— Ed.] 



AMOUNT OF HONEY A FAMILY WILL CON- 

 SUME IN ONE SEASON. 



I have often seen estimated of amounts of 

 honey a colony of bees would make, but nev- 

 er an estimate of how much a family would 

 eat. We are new in the bee business, but 

 this year five of us bid fair to consume 300 

 lbs. of honey. Is this a fair average for 

 that number of persons? 



Our bees hummed merrily in a small patch 

 of cow-peas this summer. Are they of any 

 value as bee-pasture? E. P. Coltrin. 



Terre Haute, Ind. 



[Yes, in some localities. But, say — as a 

 honey- eating famiy you surpass any other 

 I have heard of. Can any other family 

 beat it?-ED. [ 



A LARGE NAIL FOR A HIVE-TOOL. 



The best hive-tool that I know any thing 

 about is a 60 penny spike. Hammer and file 

 the point flat and sharp; cut and flatten the 

 head correspondingly to make a projection 

 on each side, and you have a good pry and 

 a good hook. F. C. Thomas. 



Spring Valley, 0., Oct. 16. 



[I have used twenty- penny spikes for 

 handling frames, with a good deal of satis- 

 faction. The head made a very convenient 

 hook for lifting up frames, and the straight 

 round body of the nail when entered between 

 the frames made a very convenient and ser- 

 viceable pry. It is the cheapest hive-tool 

 that has yet been suggested, but it is not 

 suitable for prying covers loose from the 

 hives. No doubt a larger nail hammered 

 out as you describe would be better. —Ed.] 



SUGGESTIONS IN FAVOR OF THE DOUBLE 

 GROOVE AND WEDGE FOR HOLDING FOUN- 

 DATION IN FRAMES. 



In reply to Mr. Wood, p. 1083. I will say 

 I believe that, after he gives them a more 

 thorough trial, he will be just like some of 

 the rest of us — he will have no other. My 

 first experience was like his, for I happened 

 to get some frames from a company that 

 did not do straight business, and sent out 

 wedges that were entirely too small. 



A bee-keeper told me this year that the 

 foundation would not stay in the frames; but 

 I foind out that she put the wedge and 

 foundation both in the same groove— simply 



didn't know how. Let me tell you how I go 

 about it. I first lay the foundation on the 

 table, draw a knife blade along on the edge 

 to smooth it down so it will go into the 

 groove easily. I then set the frame on the 

 table, top-bar down; drop the foundation in 

 them ; start one end of the wedge in the op- 

 posite groove; take a pair of common horse- 

 shoe nippers, and put it out of sight easier 

 than I can tell it, and you can't shake the 

 foundation out. R. G. Wood. 



Prowers, Colo. 



A PASTEBOARD CARTON HOLDING TWO SEC- 

 TIONS OF HONEY. 



I wish to give you a description of my 

 comb-honey package of which I am sending 

 you a sample. I first sold my comb honey 

 by putting it in paper bags, but found once in 

 a while I would hit a cell in getting them out, 

 and so set the honey running. I found I 

 must get up something better. It occurred 

 to me that pasteboard fixed on would protect 

 the honey all right, so in the morning early 

 I fixed up some like the sample, without the 

 caps, but I think the caps would be better. 

 I think perhaps you could get up a carton 

 that would be just the thing, as I am bound 

 to put my honey up in this style another 

 year, for I can sell two boxes as easily as 



one. By having the pasteboard tacked fast 

 at one corner I can swing it back like a door, 

 and expose both sides to view. I like to sell 

 it in the night, as the honey, by holding up 

 to the light, shows off finely. I sold most of 

 my comb honey in these packages for 30cts. 

 per package, dark honey at that. 



Benj. Franklin. 

 Franklinton, N. Y., Oct. 3. 



[It may be that we ought to supply a car- 

 ton holding two sections. We will take the 

 matter under consideration. But it would 

 be far cheaper to make a regular carton 

 than to make one on the plan given above. 

 You are, no doubt, correct in saying that 

 you can sell two sections as easily a.6 one. 

 -Ed] 



