146 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Marcli 10, 



face on a solid substance, he will undoubtedly find some 

 breakage In his honey. Of course, nice work can be done, for 

 we have had enough experience to know, and also know some- 

 thing about a belt machine, and that is what Mr. Golden, and 

 I, too, want the bee-keepers to know, which is the best and 

 safest. 



There is another thing we learned. A light machine 

 somehow, even fastened to the floor, Jars more than a heavier 

 one. Now, Mr. Editor, I have told you about the Golden disk 

 whirling-belt daisy section-cleaner. Morgan Co., Ohio. 



Houey for the Alaskan Gold-Seekers. 



BV L. G. CLARK. 



The various articles and controversies that appear in the 

 American Bee Journal have had my close attention, and tho 

 there is some confliction of ideas and methods of obtaining the 

 same results, there is one proposition upon which all are well 

 agreed, and that is the necessity of extension and building up 

 of the market for honey. The veterans have all made their 

 suggestions, all of which have merit and would obtain good 

 results If properly followed out, and now I wish to propose a 

 plan of extension of market territory which has not yet, to 

 my knowledge, been advanced. 



The mining regions of Alaska have, during the past sea- 

 son, taken thousands of tons of Callforniaevaported fruits and 

 vegetables, beans, bacon, etc. The opening of spring will see 

 hundreds of vessels laden with these commodities going north- 

 ward, and their cargoes will sell for fabulous prices among 

 the famishing Klondikers. Thousands of prospectors will be 

 rushing in, and the amount of provisions necessary to supply 

 that vast region will be enormous. One of the principal articles 

 In every prospector's outfit is syrup. Every company that 

 contracts to take up and supply men agrees to furnish a given 

 amount of syrup. Fat and fat-producing foods are the most 

 necessary articles of diet in that cold region ; hence the heavy 

 demand for sweets. 



Syrup, as well as all other articles of food and equip- 

 ment, sell for many times their actual value, and there is no 

 gainsaying the fact that iu a country where gold is the cheap- 

 est commodity, honey would in every instance be given the 

 preference over the cheap syrups and trash now supplied 

 them. The transportation and commercial companies now 

 controlling that trade are furnishing the cheapest grades of 

 syrup and imitation honey In order that they may gain the 

 greatest possible profits. 



There is some talk of necessary legislation by the present 

 Congress on behalf of Alaska, and if a pure food law — a most 

 decidedly necessary one — could be past for the benefit of that 

 country, it would do much towards relieving the honey mar- 

 ket. True, California would get the bulk of this trade, but 

 that would relieve the Eastern markets accordingly. 



I have read much of late about the United States Bee- 

 Keepers' Union, and there are some who seem to doubt Its 

 possible usefulness. Let the Union present the above propo- 

 sition regarding an Alaskan pure food law, to Congress, and 

 secure its passage. The result would be far reaching and 

 beneficial, and he who could then doubt the wisdom of 

 "Union "-Ism would be unworthy of consideration. 



Napa Co., Calif. 



¥k 



The " Lampman " Sectlon-Comb Cutter. 



BV H. LAMPJIAN. 



I am one of those engaged in the keeping of bees for the 

 profits I derive therefrom. I take the American Bee Journal, 

 and of course have seen a good deal said about leveling-down 

 combs in sections. As I have received a good many good 

 things out of the American Bee Journal, I will show its read- 

 ers what I have invented for the purpose of cutting or leveling 

 down combs in sections of the previous year. I have used it 

 the last three or four years with the greatest of satisfaction. 

 I have tried everything that I ever heard of, besides a great 

 many devices of my own, and to me they were not satisfactory, 

 until I hit upon this device, and it does it so nicely and com- 

 pletely that I thought it would be of benefit to the fraternity. 



For some reason or another, at the end of the season I 

 usually have a great many unfinisht sections, so it is quite an 

 object for me to be able to utilize them the next season. I 

 can get more uuiform combs, and just as white appearing. It 

 will be seen by the construction of the cutter that whatever 

 residue of propolis there may be, is entirely separated from 

 the comb, leaving it perfectly clean. After one has a little 

 practice, he can cut down a great many in a day ; I never 



tried to see just how many, but I should judge that 1,000 

 would be a very easy day's work. Before cutting the combs 

 down they must be perfectly dry, and entirely free from 

 honey. I have no difficulty in producing No. 1 honey from 

 such combs, besides the advantage of getting the bees started 

 in the surplus cases. 



The cutter is made altogether of tin, and one bolt. The 

 size, of course, each one will have to regulate according to the 

 size of the section used. The size for a iiMzi^i section is 

 4x10x2 inside the box, with a flange at each side to form the 

 gauge. Cut a hole 2 inches in diameter, 4 inches from one end, 

 and in the center. Put a rim one inch high around the hole 

 inside. Take a piece of XXX tin, 4 inches wide, fold it to- 

 gether, and draw to an edge, using a file to finish up with. 

 Cut a piece like the end of the cutter-knife with a slot hole 

 near the top of this end-piece, so you can raise or lower it, and 

 form the knife around it. Put a hole on each side a little be- 

 low the gauge on the box. Put the knife In, then a )i-lnch 

 bolt through all, with a thumb-nut to clamp all together. 



To use it, get a box that will be about right for you to sit 

 at comfortably in a chair ; out a hole lu the end about 4 





The Lampman Section-Comb Cutter. , 



Inches in diameter, place the cutter on so the hole in the cen- 

 ter will come in the center of the one In the box ; fasten with 

 a screw at each end. Now put water in the box about }4 inch 

 deep. Always be sure to keep water in the box. Adjust a 

 shelf in the wooden box for a lamp to rest on ; have the lamp 

 so it will come close up to the hole In the cutter-box. Let it 

 get quite hot. Now sit down with this box directly In front 

 of you, take a section in your two hands, have the knife face 

 from you, place the end farthest from you in the gauge, then 

 lower the other so it will come on top of the knife, then 



'Ml 



'cm^ 



steadily pull toward you, letting it slide off the top of the 

 knife on the gauge. When the section strikes the knife, 

 directly raise that end slowly- in such a way as to scrape 

 off any comb that may be there, all the time keeping the other 

 end In the gauge. Reverse, and perform the same act. 



It takes nowhere nearly the time to do it, that it 

 does for me to explain it. When the wax box gets about half 

 full, let it cool and remove the wax. If the residue collects 

 on the underside of the knife, take an old case-knife and re- 

 move it. 



All are at liberty to make and use this cutter-box. 



Winnebago Co., 111. 



InstructioHs for Movlug Bees Long Distances. 



BV C. P. DADANT. 



I have received the following questions which I will answer 

 in the American Bee Journal, as it may help others : 



Mr Dadant— I have a small apiary of 27 colonies of Italian bees 

 which I wish to ship from this place (Geauga Co , Ohio) to Kankakee 

 Co., 111., as early in the sprlnif as possible: and while the books give 

 general Instructions but differ somewhat la detail, there are some 

 points I am In doubt about, never having had experience In this branch 

 of the business. 



My bees ire la two-story chaff hives, ami of course tight bottoms. 

 How early In April would it be safe to move them ? Wnu d it be wise 

 to put screen cloth over the entire brood-chamber ? Would there not 

 be danger In case the weather turned cold (but not freezing) of chilling 

 the brood ? Would box cars be as good as stock cars ? [ notice some 

 advocate stock cars to ship bees, but 1 presume they have In mind 

 shipping In hot weather. Wm. M. Whitney. 



It is very difHcult to give instructions on a subject of this 

 kind and make them fit all cases, but I will try to give, from 

 ray past experience, as explicit instructions as possible. There 

 was a time when bees brought a good price and we were sell- 

 ing from 50 to 150 colonies of bees each season, shipping them 



