THE BEE-KEEPERS'' REVIEW. 



99 



Cart for a Seat ; Engineer's Suit; Hat, Veil, 



Shoes, Blackboard, Bee Brush, Screw 



Driver, Oil Stove, Scythe, Sickle, and 



a Hammock of Barrel Staves. 



^HE Editor, in his leader, having given 

 us an inkling of how luxuriously he 

 lolls around in hammocks, wearing 

 fine boots and skipping lightly with 

 his children over the well kept lawn, we 

 began to wonder how many colonies of bees 

 and how many out-apiaries our friend could 

 profitably keep in that way. With our mul- 

 titude of cares and out-apiaries, our horizon- 

 tal restings are only after the shades of 

 evening have been gathered "and pinned 

 with a star," and we find our rests, while at 

 work, and for this purpose a cart upon which 

 we can sit down while manipulating a hive 

 is one of our greatest comforts. A hive 

 cover can be used, or a square box can be 

 toted around, as we have seen in some apia- 

 ries, or a sort of one-legged milking stool 

 can be strapped to the unmentionable por- 

 tion of a man's pants. But I tell you Mr. 

 Editor nothing can beat a handy cart for the 

 purpose, as it cannot only be used for a 

 resting work seat, but many other uses as 

 well. We cannot tolerate boots ; they are 

 sure to run over at the heels or get loose and 

 tiresome to the feet. A good pair of shoes 

 are always easy for the feet, and a little 

 string or red ril)bon makes the ankles bee 

 proof. We advocated some time ago in 

 Gleanings the wearing of an engineer's suit, 

 which is very light and can be easily slipped 

 on or off over an ordinary suit of clothes. 



THE KAMBLEK IN HIS BNGINEEK's SUIT. 



Our hat is a not very wide brim straw, and 

 the veil is all brussels net with a rubber 

 string to hold it puckered at the top, and a 

 cord with a slip knot to put around the neck 

 drawing the veil up snug and quickly, and 

 as easily released. This veil can be slipped 

 from the hat to the vest pocket vei-y neatly. 

 Another convenient thing in the bee yard is 

 ■a blackboard also described in Gleanings. 



This board should be posted up in a conspic- 

 uous place and any operation performed in 

 the apiary, changing queens, extracting 

 honey, placing cases of sections, and a hun- 

 dred and one things to be reminded of, 

 which can only he learned by going to the 

 hive, can be put conspicuously on the board 

 with chalk and save hundreds of steps be- 

 sides being a constant reminder of what is 

 to be done, and the proper time to do it. 



The oil can arrangement for igniting 

 smokers is a permanent institution in our 

 apiary, and is also used to start the stove 

 fire with. We also prefer to use what is 

 called the parlor match. When you are in a 

 hurry that saves time for it goes off with a 

 fizz, and ignites shavings at once, and no 

 choking fumes arise. For fuel a nice pile of 

 not too far decomposed elm or apple wood. 

 In our use of shavings we find there is more 

 soot and sometimes liquid nastiness than 

 rotten wood ever produces. 



For brushing bees from the combs, instead 

 of using the little, ineficient brushes sold by 

 dealers we use a large Mexican fibre duster. 

 A screw eye is inserted in the end of the 

 handle, a long, strong cord inserted and tied, 

 and the loop thrown over the shoulders, and 

 it is always at your side ready for use, as it 

 cannot be dropped or left where you cannot 

 readily find it. 



Another very convenient tool for many 

 uses in the apiary is a lieht, thin bladed 

 screw driver. This should have a large and 

 bright ribbon tied to it, for, brother bee 

 keepers, you know how such small tools will 

 disappear in the yard. The bright colored 

 ribbon hangs out a signal, here I am, grasp 

 me. 



An oil stove is another convenience not to 

 be overlooked. A single wick burner will 

 do, perhaps, but a double wick is better. 

 Water can be heated, wax melted, starch 

 made and kept warm, foundation starters 

 warmed, and, several other things done. 



Instead of the exclusive use of the lawn 

 mower a sharp sickle is a useful adjunct to 

 get at grass and weeds where the mower will 

 not reach. For an out apiary where we are 

 inclined to be not so particular, a common 

 scythe, and the sickle, answers the purpose. 

 If that hammock has got to be suspended, a 

 very economical one can be made with a 

 sti'ong cord and bai rel staves. 



And lastly, don't forget to take a bee jour- 

 nal, the Review for instance. There are 

 many conveniences you can perhaps go 

 without, but a journal is a very necessary 

 stafl: to lean upon. At least that is the opin- 

 ion of The Rambleb. 



Comforts Unrecognized ; Coal Ashes About 



the Hives ; Care of Smoker Fuel ; A 



Handy Knife ; A Storage Crate. 



J. A. GREEN. 



fLIKE the expression, in the leader on 

 this subject in the last Review, that it 

 is the little, comparatively inexpensive 

 helps and conveniences that make the 

 apicultural machine run smoothly. 



