1907 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



417 



the hive, a means by which the frames are 

 properly spaced, and also to locate the frames 

 lengthwise in the hive. 



Tney also, by their impact with each oth- 

 er endwise, form a continuous barrier, there- 

 by protecting the rabbets from any accumula- 

 tion of propolis or bee-glue. In fact, they 

 are in position a closed-end frame in manip- 

 ulation, a loose hanging frame with no met- 

 tal parts to dull the honey-knife. They al- 

 so afford a wide strong hold for the fingers 

 when shaking the comos, and then see what 

 a good grip for the thumb and finger when 

 you wish to carry a heavy comb in one hand. 

 Frames made in this way can be very strong- 

 ly nailed, with no tendency to twist, and are 

 sure to hang perpendicularly in the hive. 



South Cabot, Vt. D. S. Hall. 



THE PREFERENCE FOR 4X5 SECTIONS. 



One week ago I took off three supei's of 

 white clover in 4X5Xl| sections; one super 

 in 4iXl| sections, all nicely filled and cap- 

 ped. All were put into the same show-case 

 in my store, and marked 18 cts. To-day it 

 is nearly all sold; but the trade all pick 

 out the 4X5Xl| sections. Why? The sec- 

 tions that are left are all good. I think the 

 customers who consume these will settle this 

 section question with me. In 1894 1 used all 

 4iXl|; 1895, half 4^X11, and half were 4X5; 

 1896, 24 supers 4X5, and 3 4^X1^ 



Bradshaw, Neb. C. B. Palmer. 



HONEY FROM ALFALFA. 



I noticed the question, "Does alfalfa yield 

 honey in Texas?" page 1565. It does in Ne- 

 braska; but the most of it comes from that 

 grown on light warm soil with a medium 

 stand. Rich clammy soils and a thick heavy 

 stand yield less. Why ? The nearer the 

 ground the better the flow. Cold damp pas- 

 tures and the honey-bee don't mix. If you 

 want to find bees on alfalfa, use the mower 

 when the blossom is about one to two weeks 

 old. Don't go in where you have poured 

 water a short time before, nor into damp low 

 ground after a rain, unless the weather is 

 very warm; and don't look near the bee- 

 yard. Go to the far side of your field, if not 

 over a mile; and if you don't find bees fly- 

 ing out as you go through, examine your 

 cutter-bar and sickle; and if there are no 

 cripples or dead bees on them, then make up 

 your mind that Texas alfalfa does not yield 

 honey. F. E. Starkey. 



Boelus, Neb., Dec. 31. 



QUEEN- EXCLUDERS; SLOTS TOO SMALL; 

 - WIRE-CLOTH SEPARATORS. 



On page 107 G. C, Greiner discusses ex- 

 cluder openings; and as you call for reports 

 I briefly send the following: 



Last "spring I ordered 25 fullrsheet exclud- 

 ers, the first I ever used, of the latest pat- 

 tern: and upon testing them I found that my 

 Carniolans nad to struggle to get through; 

 and at the close of the season I found a numr 

 ber quite badly clogged with dead bees. 



However, before using all I filed off the 

 rough burr edge and slightly enlarged the 

 opening of several sheets; and, while not an 

 interesting job, I expect to treat the rest in 

 that manner. I had previously met with no 

 little annoyance in consequence of finding 

 brood in comb-honey supers; and to obviate 

 that difiiculty I oi'dered the excluders. 

 Cobleskill, N. Y. S. A. B. 



[See editorial on this subject in our issue 

 for March 1, page 310.— Ed.] 



CEMENT HIVE-FOUNDATIONS; ALIGHTING- 

 BOARDS MADE OF CLOTH. 



The drawing shows my cement hive-stand 

 and cloth alighting- apron attached to the 

 bottom-board, whicn I intend to use in my 

 apiary next season. The hive-stand should 

 be about six inches high, and two inches 

 shorter and at least two inches wider than 

 the hive. The ends of the hive-bottoms 

 should never rest on the foundation, as it 

 will have a tendency to keep the bottom of 

 the hive damp, and "thus be injurious, both to 

 the bees and the hive. 



The walls of the hive-stand should be 

 about three inches thick. A knock-down 

 box held together with clamps can be used 

 as a form for making the stand. Sheet steel 

 properly bent should be nailed on inside of 

 the box sides to give the stand the desired 

 form. 



CHAPPELL S CEMENT FOUNDATION AND 

 CLOTH ALIGHTING-BOARD. 



The alighting-apron should be about 18 

 inches long and as wide as the hive, and can 

 be made of old sacks or new factory cloth. 

 If the latter is used I would give them a coat 

 of white paint, as it would make them last 

 longer. 



The advantages of the cloth over a hanl 

 board for the bees to strike on when coming 

 in loaded will be seen at a glance. The 

 api'on makes a nice runway for a returning 

 swarm if using clipped queens, and is also a 

 nice thing to dump a swarm on if natural 

 swarming is allowed. Another advantage is 

 that the apron is always hitched to the bot- 

 tom- Iward ready to use, and can be carried 

 with the hive. I have always used a loose 

 board for the bees to alight on, but it was 

 always trying_,to get a "diyorce" from the 



