1026 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 1. 



As we do not handle brood-frames, and as 

 all our manipulations will be by hives, it is 

 advisable to use some kind of hive-lifting de- 

 vice. Some are inclined to ridicule the idea 

 of such an invention, and claim that it is 

 more work to move a machine of this kind 

 about the apiary than to handle the hives; 

 however, in manipulating the sectional hives 

 for swarm control some kind of hive-han- 

 dling machine is a positive necessity, and we 

 are using with much satisfaction a very sim- 

 ple affair that is both rapid and easy of opera- 



tion, and at the same time is light and will 

 adapt itself to uneven ground. 



The illustration will help to make our de- 

 scription plain. The clamp is made like two 

 pairs of ice-tongs, connected by a bar at each 

 side. Blunt teeth on the inside prevent any 

 slipping. The jaws open wide enough to 

 drop down over the hive. A tightening of 

 the rope will close the jaws across the ends 

 of the hive, and a slight pull on the hoisting- 

 rope will quickly raise the heaviest hive, and 

 a self locking device on the rope will hold 



J. E. HAND S HIVE-LIFTER. 



It will be seen that a rope tackle is used in connection with a very simple clamp, made on the principle of 

 ice-tongs. This can be instantly adjusted, and will not slip. By pulling with one hand on the rope, the heavi- 

 est hive can be easily raised and held in any position. An inward pull on the rope releases the lock so that 

 the hive can be lowered. 



