FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 245 



one end drive a tack partly "in to prevent the plug going too 

 far into the cage. That makes all complete. 



After using these for some years, I got up another that in 

 some respects I like still better. This is shown in Fig. STVa, 

 and may be called Miller cage No. 3. Make a block 3% x IVs 

 X 5-16. From one side of the block, at one end, cut out a piece 

 1% X %, making the block as shown at No. 1, Fig. 87%. Cut 

 a piece of tin 1x2 inches. Stand the block on edge with the 

 cut-out place uppermost, and in this cut-out place lay a lead 

 pencil or similar object 11-32 in diameter. Over this bend the 

 tin, letting it come out flush with the end of the block. Then 

 laying the block on its side, still keeping the pencil in place, 

 drive two %-inch wire nails through tin and wood, clinching 

 on the opposite side. When the pencil is withdrawn there is 

 left a tube to be filled with candy. That completes the plug 

 (No. 2, Fig. 871/2). The cage itself is made of a piece of wire 

 cloth 4 inches square, if one edge is a selvedge. If there is no 

 selvedge, it must be 4 x 4% and % inch folded over as a selv- 

 edge to prevent raveling. A block must be made, not to be 

 part of the cage, but to be used to form the wire cloth over. It 

 must be a little larger than the first block, say 5x1 3-16 x %. 

 If the block were the same size as the first, there would be too 

 tight a fit, and if the fit be loose it is easy to wedge in a thin 

 slip, as a piece of wood separator. The wire cloth is wrapped 

 around the block and allowed to project at one end about % 

 inch. A light wire is wound twice around, about y2 inch from 

 the selvedge end (which is the part that does not project) and 

 fastened. Another wire is similarly fastened about 1% inches 

 from the first wire. Now the projecting part of the wire cloth 

 is bent down upon the end of the block, and hammered down 

 with a hammer. That completes the cage (No. 3, Fig. 87%), 

 but for convenience in hanging it between brood-frames one 

 end of a light wire 7 or 8 inches long is fastened into one side 

 of the cage about % inch from the open end. To put it in a 

 hive, I shove the frames apart, and holding the end of the wire 

 lower the cage where I want it, and then shove the frames to- 

 gether. That leaves 3 inches or more of the wire above the 

 top-bars, and when I want to take out the cage I take hold of 



