270 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



August 



Of the modes of importing bees to 

 California, the most novel was that 

 of Mr. Gridley, who brought four 

 swarms across the plains from Michi- 

 gan, placed in the rear end of a 

 spring wagon. He arrived in Sacra- 

 mento on the 3rd of August, 1859, 

 with them, in good condition. His 

 plan was to feed them, and in addi- 

 tion, stop occasionally in the after- 

 noon and allow the bees to fly out 

 and work till dark, when they were 

 closed up, to resume their journey on 

 the next morning. This was repeated 

 from time to time, as they required 

 their liberty. 



Notwithstanding such disastrous re- 

 sults attending the previous year's 

 shipments, there were upwards of six 

 thousand hives of bees imported dur- 

 ing the winter of 1859-60. They ar- 

 rived in better condition apparently 

 than those of previous years; yet, 

 owing to the fact that large numbers 

 of them were infected with the dis- 

 ease known as foulbrood prior to 

 their purchase and ,;hipment, to- 

 gether with the effects of so long a 

 voyage, probably one-half of the 

 whole number were lost. Many of 

 the remainder have since died, or now 

 linger in a diseased condition, which 

 is infinitely worse for the parties 

 owning them than if all had died at 

 once. Thus the result has been bad 

 for all concerned; for, while some 

 have lost their money, others have in- 

 jured their reputation, besides par- 

 alyzing for a time an important 

 branch of productive industry. — Bee- 

 keepers' Directory. 



Soldering Honey Cans 



By Dr. A. F. Bonney 



I WAS wondering how many bee- 

 keepers understand the art of 

 soldering tin, copper and galvan- 

 ized iron, and deciding, after some 

 thought that they are just ordinary 

 humans, I approached some other 

 mere men with the question. Not one 

 man in a hundred had the least idea 

 of how to proceed; therefore I as- 

 sume that about one per cent of bee- 

 keepers understand it. 



The things required are a soldering 

 "iron," which is a chunk of copper on 

 the end of a piece of iron rod, which, 

 in turn, is driven into a wood handle ; 

 a bit of soldering fluid, which con- 

 sists of scraps of zinc dissolved in 

 muriatic or hydrochloric acid. Re- 

 duce to small pieces a piece of zinc 

 sheet about 2x4 inches in size, and 

 put it into a large-necked bottle 

 which will hold about four fluid 

 ounces. When ebulition ceases, fill 

 the bottle half full of water and you 

 have the standard flux used by tin- 

 ners. 



To solder galvanized iron, it some- 

 times becomes necessary to use the 

 zinc and acid quite strong, or, in rare 

 cases, full strength. 



In soldering copper, pour about a 

 teaspoonful of the flux into an 

 earthen dish and add to it a i 

 sal ammoniac about as big as a small 

 bean. When this has dissolved it is 

 ready to use. 



Your soldering iron will require to 

 be frequently "tinned," as some flames 



used in heating it destroy the surface 

 at the point. At any time that this is 

 required, file all four surfaces of the 

 point. Have ready a large, flat piece 

 of sal ammoniac and dig a shallow 

 pocket in one side. Into this place a 

 piece of solder and rub the hot iron 

 into it when the tin of the solder will 

 unite with the copper of the iron. 



Another good, handy flux is a mix- 

 ture of zinc chloride and vaseline. It 

 is handy to use, as it does not spill. 



Solder is a mixture of lead and tin, 

 about half and half, and the best 

 form to buy it in is wire, about as 

 large as a knitting needle. There is 

 no waste from using this form. 



A surface to be soldered must be 

 scraped clean and bright. Have the 

 iron ready; wipe it clean with a swift 

 rub of a damp cloth; then, holding 

 the solder in place, touch the iron to 

 it, when it will flow over the part to 

 be mended. If a hole is too large to 

 cover well, hold a dry cloth against 

 it, inside the vessel, if you can reach 

 it, when the solder will cover. 



If, however, you have a very large 

 hole to contend with, cut a piece of 



the same material you are working 

 on. Let this be a quarter inch larger 

 than the hole. Scrape one side, the 

 one that is to be in contact with the 

 dish, and also scrape the dish three- 

 eighths of an inch around the hole, 

 then smear on some solder. Apply 

 the patch and lay the iron on it, when 

 the solder will melt. You can, if you 

 wish, solder around thj edge of the 

 patch to make sure; it will do no 

 harm. 



Buck Grove, Iowa. 



Let us add ihat, unless the spot in 

 the vessel to be repaired is as hot as 

 the solder, it will be impossible to 

 succeed in getting the solder to take 

 hold. We found that out when we 

 tried to solder a hole in the bottom 

 of a large honey extractor with too 

 small a soldering iron. If the solder- 

 ing iron is large enough, it will heat 

 the metal to which it is applied and 

 bring it to proper temperature. 



Very small leaks in honey cans, 

 which are not discovered until after 

 the honey is put in, may be stopped 

 without emptying the can, by simply 

 rubbing over the leak a small parti- 



Colony of Bees in a young persimmon tr 



