594 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



July 1 



while before it would run in the dish. I 

 discovered that the wax at the lower end, 

 just before it passed (or during- its passage 

 through) the screen would thicken and not 

 move as readily as it did higher up; and 

 for experiment's sake I decided to add 

 some artificial heat. 



By means of a swing-shelf (see illustra- 

 tion) I placed the little Daisy foundation- 

 fastener lamp in such a position that the 

 top of its chimney just entered a hole in the 

 wooden bottom, right below that place where 

 the running wax seemed to lose its mobility. 

 The effect was surprising With the lamp- 

 attachment it required less than half the 

 time to fill the dish at the lower end that it 

 did before without it, and I am well satisfied 

 that the little lamp greatly increases the 

 wax productions of the extractor. 



A swing- shelf is preferable, because,' by 

 its easy adjustment, a perpendicular posi- 

 tion of the lamp can always be maintained. 



La Salle, N. Y. G. C. Greiner. 



[The principle of using artificial as well 

 as solar heat for melting wax is one that 

 has been in use in Colorado for some time, 

 and with very good results. Our readers 

 remember that R. C. Aikin, of Loveland, 

 Colorado, and Mr. Philip Large, of Long- 

 mont, the same State, both use artificial 

 heat in connection with that from the sun. 

 The principle is correct, and it may be 

 worth the while of supply manufacturers 

 considering the advisability of an attach- 

 ment for artificial heat on the plan above 

 shown, when so ordered on solar wax-ex- 

 tractors which they make. — Ed.] 



DISLNFECTION WITH FORMALIN NOT NEC" 

 FSSARILY COMPLETF, AND WHY. 



In disinfecting combs containing foul 

 brood it should be borne in mind that, 

 while the bacillus alvei is destro3-ed by for- 

 malin, when completely exposed to its ac- 

 tion, bacteria (or spores) covered with wax, 

 paraffine, or other air-tight covering, are 

 not killed by any thing without melting the 

 wax. Any bacteria or spores that the bees 

 might incorporate in the wax of the comb 

 during construction or repairs would es- 



cape the effects of formaline. Later, in 

 making repairs, should the bacteria be un- 

 covered, reinfection would follow the first 

 visit of the comb-builders to the brood. 



Frames and hives brought to the labora- 

 tor}'^ to furnish cultures of the bacillus alvei 

 were easily disinfected by placing the hives 

 and empty frames in the dry sterilizer and 

 running the temperature up to 400° F. Aft- 

 er repainting, new colonies were introduced^ 

 with no return of the infection. 



Disinfection with gas requires great at- 

 tention to details; crevices filled with wax 

 or propolis containing bacteria would be a 

 constant menace to the health of the new 

 colon}'. 



In the average apiary the wise and am- 

 bitious larva will prefer new combs, and a 

 hive that has been baked in the stove; and 

 he will leave the foul- brood honey to the 

 apiarist — it is beyond the pale. 



Shirls B. Jackson, M. D. 



Pittsburg-, Pa., June 9. 



[What you say is undoubtedly true; at 

 all events it would be well to err on the 

 safe side. — Ed. ] 



THE VESUVIUS SMOKER — A SUGGESTION. 



I was trying a new Vesuvius smoker to- 

 day. It works very well as it is; but would 

 it not work better if that back end that has 

 theh andle on and the grate in had a cylin- 

 der-shaped tin a little smaller than the back 

 that has the grate in, fastened to the back 

 end solid, and extended up to the snout 

 against another grate with a little air-space 

 between this new cylinder-shaped tin and 

 the body (or stove) of the smoker, as it is. 

 now? The air-space between the two would 

 let it work just as easily as it does now ; be- 

 sides, it wouldn't get so hot. Then the best 



thing about it would be that the fuel could be 

 put in at the open end of this new C3'linder- 

 shaped tin, and leave the fire all at the 

 back end, the same as a muzzle-loading 

 smoker. Or if it is not necessary to put an 

 extra grate up against the snout, there could 

 be a rim there to keep the fine coals from 

 getting in the air-space between the two 

 cylinders Geo. E. Rozelle. 



Maple Lake, Pa. 



[Your suggestion is in line with that 

 made by one or two others. It may be that 

 it would be an improvement, although it 

 would increase the cost slightly. We will 

 have some smokers made on that plan, and 

 test them this summer. The illustration 

 shows the idea in detail. — Ed. ]i 



