Mower County Transcript

The Use of Separators.

The subject of separators has been a prolific topic for discussion at the bee meetings and in the bee journals. As is usual, the question, "Separators or not?" calls forth widely varying replies, some beekeepers favoring their use, while others look upon them as an unnecessary expense. One correspondent tells why he uses separators; another explains why he doesn't use separators: one favors wood separators and another tin separators, etc. In summing up the matter W. Z. Hutchinson, the editor of The Bee Keeper's Review, disposes of the question as follows: "I think all will admit that only straight combs ought to be put upon the market. If the condition of the honey flow and colonies or of the management result in straight combs without separators, then they are a useless expense; otherwise they ought to be used. Combs need not necessarily be as straight as a board, but so straight that they may be readily removed from the case without injury. If a beekeeper can secure nearly all straight combs without separators, and has a local market in which he can sell direct to consumers for the few bulged combs that he may have, separators would still be a useless expense. When separators are needed it appears to be settled that wood is preferable for loose separators and tin for those to be nailed fast to wide frames."