496 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



if the bees had located their entrances. So I 

 moved each hive back so that they stood 

 about a foot back of the ttorth line of the 

 trees. This was done at one operation, 

 keeping^ the same relative position of the 

 hives. The only difference was that, to the 

 bees at least, the trees appeared to have 

 mjved southward. There was very little if 

 any mixing, but there was an interruption, 

 for it took the bees nearly all day to become 

 accustomed to the change. Just before the 

 moving- they were working in the field; but 

 honey-g^athering ceased as soon as the 

 workers returned. But conditions were nor- 

 mal, or practically so, the next day. 



You are entirely correct when you say 

 bees can be moved backward more readily 

 than sidewise. I would not hesitate to 

 move a whole apiary three or four feet back- 

 ward; and it would make no difference if it 

 were moved sidewise providing there were 

 no distinguishing landmarks such as trees. 

 If, for instance, the apiary were located in 

 an open plain or field, without any trees or 

 knolls, nor any thing to distinguish loca- 

 tion, the whole bee-yard, if the relative po- 

 sition of each hive were preserved, could be 

 moved a good man}' feet one way or the 

 other. 



In the little unconventional convention, 

 made up of Mr. Chalon Fowls, Mr. W. Z. 

 Hutchinson, and mj'self, at the home of Mr. 

 Fowls, a discussion arose as to whether a 

 shaken swarm could be shifted around as 

 readily as a natural swarm. Mr. Hutch- 

 inson, as I reported, was of the opinion that 

 it could be. We should like to have reports 

 from those who have tested the matter. It 

 sometimes becomes very desirable to move a 

 bee-yard from the front of the house to the 

 rear, because of the annoyance to the pas- 

 sersby in a public highway. If the shaken 

 plan would work, the whole yard could be 

 moved backward the depth of the lot, or 

 nearly so. If any one tries the experiment, 

 perhaps he had better put two or three weak 

 nuclei in front to catch the few stragglers 

 that may come back. These, later, can be 

 again moved back. — Ed.] 



boards, and it ought to just cov 

 with one under each end, ani 

 the center. Tack the board 

 blocks, and lay on top of it two 

 with their centers 2 feet apart 

 es from each end of the board. 



SUGGESTION NO. 1 FOR IMPROVEMENT IN 

 WAX-PRESSES. 



On page 675, Aug. 15, last year, mention 

 is made of the fact that a continuous pres- 

 sure under the screw of the wax-press was 

 desirable; but that an ordinary spring, 

 sufficiently stiff, would be too expensive. 

 Let me suggest a wood spring for your wax- 

 press, that is both powerful and cheap. As 

 I do not know the size of the press I shall 

 have to assume dimensions; so we will make 

 our spring 4 feet 2 inches long and 12 in. 

 wide and 10 inches high or thick. We shall 

 need for it six dry hard straight-grained 

 boards of southern pine or other suitable 

 wood, yz X 12 in. X4 ft. 2 in., and 18 pieces of 

 any kind of stuff 1X2X12 inches. 



To begin, lay down on the floor or bench 

 three of these blocks, exactly two feet from 

 center to center. Now lay on one of the 



blocks to the board, and lay c 

 second board; on this place thre 

 actly over the three we startec 

 the third board, and on it two 

 over the two on the second boar, 

 in this way till the 6 boards ai 

 are all used up, and you will ht 

 that will surprise j'ou for stre 

 ness, and low cost. These s 

 good service here in war times un 

 cars. Of course, the wood wil 

 time, but will do service a Ion 

 doesn't get wet while under a Ic 

 make a rough elevation or side ■ 

 out my crude directions. M 



[Your scheme of a wooden sj 

 be all right save for one fatal ot 

 would soon lose its elasticity, 

 spring inside of a wax-press, i 

 on top of it, just as you have 

 the enveloping steam would ver^ 

 it good for nothing. As soofl ; 

 was applied the wooden boards 

 and stay bent. Why, that is ji 

 they bend all bent work. The ' 

 into a steam-box, and when it i 

 ly soaked with hot steam it is 

 the proper curve, and allowed to 

 on-felloes, bicycle-rims, and . 

 work, are treated in this waj'.— 



MORE ABOUT BULK COMB HONl 

 FOR SECTIONS WEIGHING A FU 



H. H. Hyde says, page 14, th 

 consumer buy's a can of bulk c 

 . . . . he feels that he is 

 weight." I want to emphasize 

 "full weight.' That tells the 

 story. Consumers are rapidly 

 on" that our so-called "stan 

 tions do not hold a full-weight 

 are demanding bulk honey, 

 blame for this state of affairs? 

 not the consumer. Eight yeai 

 not have a customer who calle 

 honey. Now I have hundreds, 

 takes about 500 lbs. of it eve 



