Southard and Ranney, of Kalamazoo, use a very neat rack ([Fig, 51]), in which they use the thin veneer sections which we recommend as superior to all others for the general apiarist. They have used these with excellent success, but without separators, which they wish to insert. Perhaps by taking out the board partitions ([Fig, 51, B, B]), and putting tin separators the other way across, they would accomplish their object. In this case, the ends of the adjacent sections would not be separated, and the width of the rack would just accommodate two, three, or four sections, to be governed by size of hive and sections. The sheet-iron rests ([Fig, 51, H, H, H]) which, with their bent edges, just raise the rack one-fourth of an inch from the brood frames, would then run the other way, and give the requisite strength. Thus, the tins would not be liable to bend, as they would if run the shorter way of the rack. The end-board, too ([Fig. 51. A]), would be a side-board, and the strips ([Fig. 51, G, G]), with the intervening glass, would be at the ends.
The Wheeler rack ([Fig, 52]) simply holds the sections, while each section is glassed separately.
Captain Hetherington sets a rack of sections above the frames, and stands sections one above the other on the side for side storing. Mr. Doolittle makes a rack by placing frames, such as I have described—except they are only half as high, and hold but two sections—side by side, where they are held by tacking a stick on top across each end of the row. He also places two tiers, two deep, at each end of the brood-chamber, if he desires to give so much room.
All apiarists who desire to work for comb honey which will sell, will certainly use the sections, and either adjust them by use of frames or crates.
FOOT-POWER SAW.
Every apiarist who keeps upwards of fifty colonies of bees, and makes apiculture a specialty, will find a foot-power saw a very valuable apparatus.
I have now used the admirable combined foot-power saw of W. F. & John Barnes for a year, and find that it grows in value each month. It permits rapid work, insures uniformity, and enables the apiarist to give a finish to his work that would rival that of the cabinet-maker.
Those who procure such a machine should learn to file and set the saws, and should never run the machine when not in perfect order.