1907 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



261 



CONVENIE$rCES IN THE WOKKSHOP; A BENCH 



ARRANGED FOR NAILING AND WIRING 



FRAMES. 



I have watched with interest the various 

 devices for simplifying the woi'k of the bee- 

 keeper; and as I have a bench for nailing 

 frames which I consider handy, I am sending 

 a sketch and a description of it. This bench 

 is built just the right height so that a man 

 can sit in a chair and have room for his 

 knees under it. Mine is 25 inches from the 

 under side; but being built for a tall man it 

 is higher than the average man will desire. 



The standard in the center, A, is to rest 

 the top-bar in when nailing. The cleats, B, 

 B, hold it from falling sidewise; and the 

 block C holds it at the desired height for 

 nailing. This block is nailed over the cleats, 

 leaving a space into which the projecting 

 end of the top-bar will slide, which holds it 



[Almost any work-bench can be made 

 more convenient by having an extra shelf or 

 ledge just a little way above it so that extra 

 tools, nails, and the like can be put on it, 

 leaving the bench proper free for the actual 

 work in hand. Your work-bench is probably 

 as convenient as any thing that has been 

 thus far shown. — Ed.] 



THE IMPERIAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA; AL- 

 FALFA FOR CATTLE. 



I think I have found an ideal bee counti'y, 

 one whei'e the extractor can be used every 

 month in the year. We not only have the best 

 alfalfa lands in the world, but wild flowers 

 in endless variety. Five acres of alfalfa will 

 keep six head of dairy cows and a few pigs 

 the year around. This old valley, you know, 

 has been known in our old school geography 

 as the Colorado Desert, a part of the chain 



much firmer than it would with the bar rest- 

 ing on the extreme end. The whole is made 

 so the bar fits easily, and is given a slight 

 backward tilt. 



The bench being weakened in front, where 

 the notch is sawed for this standard, I fas- 

 tened two strips, D, D, of inch lumber to the 

 under side of the table, at front, giving them 

 a slight backward tilt, and fastened them to 

 the bottom of the standard A, the whole 

 resting on the floor. At the back of the 

 bench are four nail-boxes, E, E, in which I 

 keep my nails, end-spacing staples,*etc. From 

 the boxes to each end of the bench are left 

 shelves on which I keep my knife, pincers, 

 nail-set (which is just the right size to slide 

 under the end-spacing staple to give it the 

 desired depth), and any little tools I need. 



The pieces nailed on the end, F, F, F, F, 

 are to place top and bottom bars upon, where 

 they are within easy reaching distance. There 

 is plenty of room at the left on the bench to 

 , lay end-bars after the nails have been start- 

 ed. I start nails in the bottom and end bars 

 and pile them on the bench, and at the end 

 as long as T have room, before I begin nail- 

 ing up. At the right is a reel, G, for wire. 

 Leon C. Wheeler. 



Barryton, Mich., March 13, 1906. 



of Death Valleys whei'e untold thousands 

 have perished with heat and thirst, following 

 the ever receding but seductive mirage. But 

 all the horrors of the old days are gone. 

 Canals and ditches are everywhere carrying 

 the fructifying waters of the great Rio Colo- 

 rado to the growing fields of grain and mea- 

 dow. On every hand the stately eucalypt, 

 pepper-tree, and date palm and palmetto 

 are springing up as if by magic. Our pre- 

 vailing winds are from the Pacific Ocean, 

 purified and sucked dry in their passage 

 over the San Jacinto Mountains, making this 

 one of the most healthful places in the world. 

 To all sufferers with asthma, lung affections, 

 or rheumatics, I would say,, get you a tent, 

 gun, and fishing-tackle, and hie to this favor- 

 ed clime and live close to nature for a few 

 months, and you will surely be rewarded 

 with health and a life-long affection for our 

 grand valley. Byron Iams. 



Holtville, California. 



A HAND DRILL FOR PIERCING END-BARS. 



I see my California brother has sent you a 

 drawing of a machine for punching holes in 

 end-bars to receive wire, and I notice your 

 comments on the same. I will warn you be- 

 forehand that I too am a Canuck, so, be care- 



