GENERAL WOEK IN WINTER 



197 



T-T^. 1911, 



One winter the author paid a visit to the Narrang 

 Apiaries at Fernbank, Victoria, and while there was 

 shown a scheme for warming combs to extract in the 

 winter months (see Fig. 69). 



A galvanised iron tank holds the combs, and is placed 

 over a copper containing boiling water, heated by a 

 stove. As fast as the combs are brought in the super 

 bodies, they are lifted out and placed in the tank, the 

 operator at the same time pushing the combs already 

 heated to the space created by the man uncapping at the 

 other end. By this means the extracting is carried right 

 along without a hitch. The top of the tank is covered 

 by a piece of "duck," or even corn sack to retain the 

 heat. 



TO KEEP HIVE COVERS ON. 



During a winter flow, the burr and brace combs — 

 so good for holding the lids 

 on tightly — are constantly 

 removed, so that when a 

 high wind springs up a 

 number of covers are liable 

 to be displaced. The author 

 has for a considerable num- 

 ber of years used small 

 staples to fasten them on. 



The "Australasian Bee-heeper" printed the following 

 note from the author : — 



"The Americans with all their go-ahead ways and 

 labour-saving contrivances have yet to evolve a convenient 

 fastening for a hive cover. As a matter of fact they still 

 adhere very strongly to a large rock, stone, drain pipe, 

 or some other equally unhandy means of keeping the 

 lid in place. It is much easier simply to remove a pair 

 of staples (one on each side) with the fingers. The 

 position of the staples is shown in the appended sketch. 

 The legs of the staples measure % of an inch long, 

 (Fig. 70) and the space between them is 1^/4 inches wide. 



■>0 STI\PLE 



Fig 70. 



Fl^STEllltiG Foil rilVE CO\/Ef\ 



