1907 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



701 



instructions that are sent out by all man- 

 ufacturers of good outfits. 



WHAT KIND OF ENGINE TO BUY. 



This is a question that every intelligent 

 farmer or bee keeper must decide when he is 

 contemplating the purchase of an engine. 

 We have spent hundreds of dollars in testing 

 different makes of engines, and have on hand 

 now two or three kinds which will pro1)ably 

 never be used, simply because they are not 

 adapted to the work required of them. We 

 formerly were of the opinion that a very 

 small light engine of the type used on motor 

 bicycles would be very satisfactory for run- 

 ning honey-extractors; but we found that they 

 were very delicate, and easy to get out of 

 adjustment. Although we had no trouble in 

 running them, yet the average person not ex- 

 perienced would have a good deal of 

 ti'ouble. 



We next tried a marine engine of the two- 

 cycle type instead of the four-cycle engines 



marine engines when it is considered that 

 the last mentioned are not ready to run, and 

 have to be practically rebuilt when used for 

 stationary work. Even then they are not 

 nearly so satisfactory as an engine designed 

 for the purpose. 



We consider an air-cooled engine much the 

 best for purposes requiring from one to two 

 and a half horse-power, as there are no trou- 

 blesome and heavy water-tanks with the at- 

 tendent complications of water-pipe connec- 

 tions, pumps, etc. When three or more horse- 

 power is required a water-cooled engine is a 

 necessity. 



WHAT A ONE-HORSE-POWER ENGINE CAN BBS 

 USED FOR. 



Besides running honey-extractoi's, a one- 

 horse-power engine can be used in many 

 ways on the farm. They are just right for 

 pumping water, running chux'ns, cream-sep- 

 arators, teed-cutters, feed-grinders, and buzz- 

 saws, in case the bee-keeper makes his own 



FIG. 4.— ONE ENGINE DRIVING TWO LARGE FOUK-FRAME EXTRACTORS. 



which we had been using. These, in some 

 ways, were simpler, but we found them en- 

 tirely unsatisfactory for all work where the 

 load varies. They are all right when used 

 for propelling boats or in all cases where the 

 load is constant. Where the load varies, 

 small marine engines require constant atten- 

 tion to keep them from racing or going so 

 slow that they stop. Furthermore, the ma- 

 rine motor when fitted with all the accesso- 

 ries, including a heavy water-tank for cool- 

 ing the cylinder, is as heavy as a farm outfit. 

 It is our opinion that it is much more satis- 

 factory in the end to buy an engine that is 

 intended for stationary work and for use on 

 the farm. Such engines are sent out all set 

 up and ready to run, and the price is not 

 very much higher than that of the bicycle or 



supplies. We tried the last mentioned and 

 found that a two-inch oak plank could be 

 cut with ease. Greater power would not be 

 needed unless very heavy stuff were to be 

 cut. Very often five-horse-power engines 

 are used where a one-horse power would do 

 the work easily. The one-horse-power air- 

 cooled engine here shown weighs about 275 

 pounds complete, mounted on skids with all 

 the accessories, so that it can be easily moved 

 by two men. 



We believe that, if a much lighter engine 

 is used, there will be a great deal of trouble 

 in keeping it running regularly. If the parts 

 are made large, so they are not easily gotten 

 out of order, a small boy can quickly learn 

 to start and stop the engine and take entire 

 charge of it. 



