1398. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



149 



jectionable, and the use of a minimum quantity advised, 

 hence, a return to the primitive design. 



But the state of the art had advanced — the methods of 

 manufacture had been improved, as well as the foundation 

 itself. An exceedingly thin septum being the result of con- 

 tinued experimenting for years seemed an opportune time for 

 the aforesaid change — not unlike the development of our im- 

 proved section, In which the plain style, altho first made. Is 

 only now being popularized. 



The members of the Michigan convention being willing to 

 try the experiment suggested by Mr. Bingham, unitedly paid 

 the amount necessary to procure a mill engraved expressly 

 for the purpose. 



In due time Mr. Bingham announced that the mill had 

 been completed, and those desirous of testing the product 

 could do so by procuring the fouudation through him ; where- 

 upon I ordered some three or four pounds. Upon receiving 

 and examining the foundation I was agreeably surprised to 

 find the product so thin and delicate. However, owing to its 

 smooth angular surface, which was minus the cell-walls, I was 

 somewhat skeptical as to Its acceptance by the bees. I ex- 

 pected to see much of it torn down, or transformed into tfrone- 

 comb. In this respect I was agreeably surprised, it being 

 readily accepted by the bees, and not a single section was 

 found to contain drone-comb. 



But the finisht product was far more Interesting and sat- 

 (sfacbory. The dally test by both Mrs. Aspinwall and myself 

 led us to give it the preference. It requires an expert to de- 

 tect any difference between it and natural comb. Altho I 

 remarkt to Mr. Hutchinson, when at our home, that It was 

 about equal to the natural product, I also mentioned the ten- 

 tency to warp, which is quite an objection. In some instances 

 the foundation warpt to such an extent that little or no cell- 

 room was left between the septum and separator at the lower 

 edge or bottom of the section, necessitating elongated cells 

 on the opposite side. Altho the objection is apparently slight, 

 still such combs are never fastened to the bottom of the sec- 

 tions ; consequently they laok the plump, well-Slled appear- 

 ance, as well as the requisite strength necessary in transpor- 

 tation. 



If we carefully examine the process of comb-bullding, the 

 added knowledge will enable us to understand why a founda- 

 tion without cell-walls so closely approximates natural comb 

 in the finisht product. 



During comb-building small particles of wax are constantly 

 being welded to the edges of new comb, which is also true of 

 foundation with rudimentary cell-walls. Bees invariably at- 

 tach the plastic material to the edges, previously reduced 

 to a like condition. In order that the work may be homogene- 

 ous throughout. As a natural consequence, the base or sep- 

 tum is scarcely toucht during a good honey-yield. With foun- 

 dation having no cell-walls, the angular bases must first be 

 operated upou by the bees, and rendered sufficiently plastic to 

 retrain the new particles of wax. This process practically re- 

 news the entire base. Inasmuch as the angles of both sides 

 necessitate much closer work than we would naturally fexpect. 



While this process of renewal or rendering the angular 

 surface plastic Is productive of comb equaled only by the 

 natural, it also causes the warping already alluded to, espe- 

 cially when the sides are operated upon unequally. 



In all lines of progress, however, with a point gained wo 

 are likely to encounter a corresponding evil. But inventors 

 wear them away. By fastening the foundation on three sides, 

 the objection would be overcome, altho a lesser one (that of 

 fastening) would present itself. 



Altho I do not like divided sections, which, by clamping, 

 secures the foundation, still I think some method should be 

 devised to supersede the use of hot plates or melted wax, if 

 possible. 



In all probability we shall not experience a honey-yield 

 for some time which will fully equal that of last season. Un- 

 der the circumstances of a poor yield, the Michigan founda- 

 tion might prove a failure. Certainly, 189" was exceptionally 

 favorable to the acceptance of any artlBciai base. During 

 times of failure bees, like individuals, are wont to be employed, 

 and will tear down the artifice of men's hands rather than 

 remain idle. L. A, Aspinwall. 



Mr. Bingham had used the no-wall foundation quite ex- 

 tensively, and, as already mentioned, had a super on exhibi- 

 tion. The super was not a selected one, and was taken right 

 from the hive, as shown by the propolis. It was necessary to 

 use a knife in prying the sections loose. A Mr. Robinson had 

 used about 10 pounds of this style of foundation. It workt 

 very well until the flow of honey slackt up, then the bees 

 gnawed down the foundation. 



Mr. Wheeler — I had trouble last year with the bees 

 gnawing out the Van Deusen foundation. 



Pres. Bingham — I used the no-wall foundation altogether 

 last year. It runs from 17 to 18 feet to the pound. We were 

 all delighted with the honey. Not only this, but there was a 

 saving of some .$7.00 or $8.00 In the cost of foundation, over 

 what it would have cost to use ordinary foundation. 



After dinner of the second day the convention took up 

 that part of the President's address relating to 



FOUL BROOD. 



Mr. John N. Rankin, who has charge of the Michigan 

 Experiment Apiary at the Agricultural College, read the 

 Michigan foul brood law, which appeared on page 633 of the 

 American Bee Journal for 1897. 



Pres. Bingham — Foul brood is spreading, and something 

 ought to be done to prevent its spread. 



Mr. Hutchinson — That law that Mr. Rankin has just read 

 was drawn up by Prof. Cook a good many years ago. At that 

 time It was probably a good law. Foul brood and 'the 

 methods of getting rid of it were not then so well understood 

 as they are now. A person of ordinary Intelligence, who will 

 be careful and thorough, can get rid of foul brood without 

 much loss, and it Is an Injustice to compel a man to burn up 

 his colonies when the hives, bees and wax, yes, and the honey, 

 may be saved. I do not know the text of the law In Ontario, 

 Canada, but it allows the owner or the inspector to get rid of 

 the disease. 



Pres. Bingham — There are a great many careless, incom- 

 petent bee-keepers, and if we allow one to attempt a cure, we 

 must allow all the same privilege. 



Mr. Rankin — I think that we ought to be allowed to 

 cure It. 



R. B. Oldt — Foul brood can be easily gotten rid of. A 

 swarm hived in an empty hive will be free from the disease. 

 A colony or swarm driven out can be hived the same way, and 

 will be free from disease. The old colonies can be united, and 

 when the bees have all hatcht they can be driven out and 

 treated as a swarm. The old combs can be melted into wax. 



At this point Mr. Rankin read a paper showing 



What Ha« Been Done at the micliiKan Experi. 

 ment Apiary. 



When I consented to give a paper on the work at the 

 Michigan experiment apiary, I did not at the time realize how 

 little had been done. 



The bees were taken from the cars May 19 — 21 colonies 

 in all. As soon as these were examined they were united 

 down to 1 2 fair colonies. 



Every bee-keeper knows of the time, labor and expense 

 required to start an apiaryi aud how little chance there Is to 

 do any practical work the first year. We requeened the 12 

 colonies, and at present have 17 tested Italian queens in our 

 yard, as well as several pure home-bred ones. 



There are certainly many difficuties in the path of the 

 Michigan experiment apiary. Finance is perhaps the greatest 

 one of them all. The old bee-house has been turned into a 

 dwelling, and is now occupied by one of the professors, so 

 another house had to bo fitted up. We will hope, however, 

 that this is only temporary, and will soon be replaced by a 

 better one. 



The only equipment that was on the grounds was a lot of 

 old-style hives of different makes, so new fixtures had to be 

 bought. The stock is not complete yet, but will be when next 

 season opens. 



The director of the station has certainly been very fair 

 with the apiary department, and has given it as much atten- 

 tion as he does the other departments. He has granted every- 

 thing that I have Insisted was a necessity. He is Interested 

 In the department, and wishes to see It prosper. 



Of course, we can't expect to get a whole outfit together 

 in one year, but the future certainly looks good. 



It would be a great step towards success if practical bee- 

 men took more interest in the work of the station. If you are 

 interested, let the director know about it. We have had a 

 great many letters from farmer bee-keepers, and they are very 

 much interested. 



An experiment was made to test the drawn and thin foun- 

 dation the past summer, and it was certainly a very interest- 

 ing one. It was too late to test them In the honey-flow, so we 

 fed back. They proved to be of about equal merit. A result 

 of this experiment can be had by applying to the apiary de- 

 partment of the station. 



An effort was made to unravel bee-paralysis. We pro- 

 cured two queens from the apiary of T. S. Ford, of Mississippi, 

 from colonies that were affected with the disease, and Intro- 

 duced them to healthy colonies. These are % of a mile from 

 the apiary. Through the lirst part of November one of them 

 showed slight traces of the disease, and when spring opens we 



