120 



Bec-l.-i'ciHiK-/ ill Victoria. 



is made of slats of i-in. lining Boards, 3sf inches long, i5-i6th inch wide, 

 and I inch thick. The edges on the upper side are planed away at an 

 angle of 45 degrees, so that when the slats are placed side by side they 

 form V-shaped gutters, with an opening i-i6th inch wide at the bottom. 

 Twenty-four of these slats are nailed on to three cross-pieces of |-inch 

 flooring board 23^ inches long and 2 inches wide, in such a way that 

 the thin bottom edges of the slats are 1-15 inch apart. The raft is then 

 fitted into the trough and dressed till a space of not more than ^J, inch 

 remaitns all around between the raft and the lining of tlie trough. To 

 keep the raft always at the proper level, that is, with the water not highei 

 than about ^ inch l)et\yeen the slats, air-cushions are fastened under- 

 neath the raft, one at each end. They are made of light zinc, such as 

 the lining of piano or drapery cases. Fold a piece of this material, cut to 

 the correct dimensions, over a piece of wood 35 inches x 5 inches x i inch. 



Drinking Troughs for Bees. 



solder the joints, and, after withdrawing the board, also the end. It may 

 be tested as to being air-tight by pressing it under Avater to see whether 

 air-bubbles escape; if so, there is a leak which has to be re- soldered. In 

 soldering zinc, raw spirits of salt, diluted somewhat with water, should 

 be used, not killed spirits (chloride of zinc) ; this rule also applies to 

 galvanized iron. The solder-iron .should be clean, well faced with solder, 

 and only just hot enough to melt the solder, but not the zinc; this is only 

 possible if the solder is of good quality. If the air-cushions raise the 

 raft too high at first the latter should be weighted down to the proper 

 level by means of small stones evenly distributed, and as the wood be- 

 comes saturated with water they may be removed as required. The raft 

 of the trough, which is under the stand-pipe, has an upright iron rod 

 pivoted to it in the centre. This rod connects by means of a hinge-joint 

 with a lever fa.stened to the head of the water tap, which is screwed into 



