564 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
f December 26, 1839. 
NOTES ON BEES. 
GLASS SECTIONS. 
“ A Sussex Amateur ” asks for information regarding the 
using of tin for holding glass sections together. Many years ago 
I had a fancy for making tin and zinc corner pieces for holding 
squares of glass together. These were used for the protection of 
flowers, for striking cuttings under, and for the protection of 
tender seeds and plants in spring or autumn, as well as for 
holding small supers of glass together when on the hive. These 
were not for myself alone, I occasionally sold them to others. 
The advantages were that when not in use they were easily taken 
to pieces and stored. The disadvantage was that they only held 
together when there was no draw upon the glass. I think then 
that tin fasteners or corners are ambiguous terms, and cannot be 
binding unless they are of a special make or form. If these are 
mew then the patentee must be protected, but if not any person 
may make without the fear of prosecution. 
FEEDERS. 
These are numerous and have been explained often, so that it 
might appear nothing more need be added nor another wanted. 
At page 453 I mentioned two superior and useful feeders ; the one 
I am about to mention now is on the same principle, but is more 
serviceable for work at the Heather. It sometimes happens that 
bees at the moors for want of fine weather become decimated, so 
-that when fine weather comes there are not bees enough to gather 
much honey, whereas by timely feeding the bees would have been 
all alive and much honey secured. Top feeders are of no use at the 
Heather. A good bottom feeder, and for all purposes is a tin, 
square in shape, and large enough to hold from 2 to 4 lbs. of sugar 
after it is dissolved. Any amateur who can handle a soldering 
bolt can make them easily enough, and at an outlay of 3d. or 4d. 
•each. A tin scoop about 2 inches broad and not more than three- 
eighths of an inch deep, which maybe left permanently in^he 
hive. This should be covered at the outer end to the extent of the 
size of the fountain, and a hole pierced in it sufficient to admit the 
neck of the fountain, which is a brass screw, such as is used for oil 
■cans about an inch in diameter. A hole about an eighth of an inch 
in diameter is drilled right in the centre, and counter sunk on the 
upper side, or it may be flat ; a screw nail let into this acts as a 
valve, and a bend or a small nut on the other prevents it falling 
•out. It need not be more than 1 inch long. This is the part I have 
■never before described, the valve never gets out of order, and by 
using so large a screw it is easily filled or emptied. Of course a 
pane of glass improves it but costs more. Its usefulness consists in 
addition to being an all-round good feeder is an indispensable one 
lor feeding bees when at the Heather, and bee-keepers studying 
their own interests should include one for every hive in their 
winter’s work. 
USEFUL SUBSTANCES. 
Petroleum is useful in many ways about the apiary, removing 
paint and grease, and for lubricating rusty hinges. 
Turpentine is fatal to moths, and as it volatilises readily, hives 
and supers containing comb should have some of it applied. 
It is not the hives and combs alone that suffer, but every 
woollen or fur garment is very soon rendered useless by their 
•depredations if allowed to increase unchecked, so that no pains 
should be spared to exterminate the pests. 
Carbolic acid should be frequently used on all bee appliances, 
and good follows if combs to be used in stock hives get a slight 
sprinkling and kept close for some time after. 
OIL CLOTHS. 
Cotton cloth steeped in boiled linseed oil makes a pliable and 
light but effective covering for bees at the Heather, as well as for 
surplus stocks at home. Sew several plies of cloth at each corner, 
then put in a brass ring, steep in oil, then drip, and stretch out to 
dry. A few subsequent dressings with a cloth or brush add 
to its closeness. As these when new are sticky they should be 
prepared long before wanted. Do not use any paint, nothing but oil. 
FOUNDATION. 
Procure this and all supers and frames fitted with it during 
winter. A word of caution as to its use. Many bee-keepers fill 
sections and supers with it, which gives a greater quantity of honey, 
but of inferior quality. Those who go in for quantity use full 
sheets, and have to be contented with a lesser price, while those 
who go in for quality can easily dispose of it, in the face of a 
glutted market too, and at a higher figure. The latter are those 
who are really creating a desire for honey amongst the million, 
which will result in more profit. The former may be causing 
more sensation, but are shutting the door against future profits. 
DRIFT HONEY, 
Although black combs are not seen, when drained from them 
is often sickening, and as the people become learned to the right 
flavour will reject such. A coloured super gives quite a good 
sample of drift honey, but if bees were managed as they should 
be it would be the exception and not the rule, as it still is in many 
quarters. 
Honey drift from long-bred-in combs should not be offered 
for sale as a first-class article, but as an inferior sample, and 
labelled as such. Some people contend that storing honey in bred- 
in combs does not affect the flavour, but it does so, to a very great 
extent too. Honey soon becomes spoiled if stored in a damp place 
or exposed to the air, or to a great heat to prevent granulation. I 
drew the attention of one bee-keeper to this lately who stored fine 
honey in a damp milk house, which has spoiled it greatly. On 
my suggestion he has put up a wooden erection where it will be 
free from damp or atmospheric influence.—A. Lanarkshire Bee¬ 
keeper. 
GLASS SECTIONS—PATENT RIGHTS. 
Well done Mr. Editor for (on page 518) putting temptation out of 
our way. We have been longing to see the great discovery of “ A Hallam- 
shire Bee-keeper.” From the letter that appeared from him some 
months ago many were led to believe they were going to be shown the 
way how to make these glass sections themselves at the trifling cost of 
10s. per 1000. Families might thus employ themselves during winter 
evenings, and the tools were to cost a trifle ; but alas 1 we are disappointed. 
Why didn’t “A Hallamshire Bee-keeper” tell us plainly at first of his in¬ 
tentions ? But for the Editor we might have been led into a trap. Your 
correspondent has a right to enjoy the fruit of his labour and to patent 
what he can, and I hope aU the friends of the bee wish him success. 
For some months past I have been trying to think out some plan for 
making glass sections, and have at. last succeeded. I have been at a 
great disadvantage, having never seen a glass section. I have made 
two patterns, they are put together very soon without tin and at very 
little cost. I will try them next summer and if they turn out as I 
expect, I want them for exhibition purposes, and will then let the 
readers of this Journal know more about them. — A Howdenshire 
Bee-keeper. 
Yj,’" All correspondence should be directed either to “ The 
Editor” or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. 
Hogg or members of the staff often remain unopened un¬ 
avoidably. We request that no one will write privately 
to any of our correspondents, as doing so subjects them to 
unjustifiable trouble and expense. 
To Inquirers and Correspondents. —In consequence of the 
necessity of maliinq up the pages of the pet sent issue of this Journal 
several days in advance in view of Christ mast ide, answers to some letters 
must he deferred to a future issue. 
Stocks ( Moss Rose). —If you send us a stamped directed envelope 
the information you require will be supplied. 
Celery Decaying (J. II.).— If the whole of your Celery is like 
the sample sent it is next to worthless. It was impossible to have 
anticipated its condition. The leaflets as they push from the flower 
stem into wet and possibly heavy soil are almost certain to perish, as in 
the example. There is no means of checking the evil, and the only 
