18 COMB HONEY. 
enough space at the sides to allow it to swing freely without binding 
and about three-sixteenths to one-fourth inch at the bottom to allow for 
stretching while being drawn out. To secure better attachment of the 
comb to the bottom of the section, a bottom starter about five-eighths 
inch wide may be used. In this case the top starter should reach to 
within three-sixteenths to one-fourth inch of the bottom starter. In 
some localities the character of the flow is such that but little is gained 
by the use of the bottom starter, while in other localities it is difficult 
to produce honey that will stand shipment well without it. 
The various types of apparatus usually used for fastening founda- 
tion in the sections make use of a heated metal plate which, after 
melting the edge of the sheet of foundation, is withdrawn, allowing 
the melted edge to be brought quickly in contact with the section. 
This fastens one edge of the sheet of foundation firmly to the wood. 
Foundation fasteners employing this principle may be simply a hand 
apparatus consisting of a metal plate of proper size provided with a 
handle, the operator transferring the tool from the source of heat to 
the edge of the foundation. Or the principle may be incorporated in 
amore or less complex machine which provides for the maintenance of 
the proper temperature of the heated plate, its movement to melt the 
edge of the foundation and a proper support for the section and foun- 
dation during the process. For the purpose of securing better filled 
sections of honey various methods of attaching the sheet of founda- 
tion to the sides as well as the top of the section have been devised, 
but are not extensively used by producers. Among these methods 
are fitting the sheet of foundation in place, then directing a fine stream 
of melted wax along its edges, or the use of split sections in which a 
sheet of foundation is continuous through a row of sections, extending 
through their sides and top. 
Some super construction is such that the sections may be placed 
directly into the super by the operator who puts in the foundation. 
This work is usually done during the winter months when the bees 
require no special attention. Enough supers should be provided to 
take care of the largest possible crop, even though it is not often that 
all are used the same season. The beekeeper who is operating 
several apiaries can not afford to take time to prepare supers for the 
bees during a good honey flow. Supers of sections thus prepared in 
advance should be kept clean by storing them in piles and keeping 
the piles covered from dust. 
MANIPULATION OF THE BEES. 
It is important to note that there are four essential factors enter- 
ing into the securing of a crop of honey: (1) A sufficient amount of 
bloom of healthy and well-nourished nectar-secreting plants growing 
in soil to which they are adapted and within range of the apiary. 
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