106 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



stayed by various ir.ethods, we prefer a 

 combination of splints and horizontal 

 wires. When splints alone are used, not 

 only are the lower ends of the splints too 

 often gfnawed away, but the result is 

 very likely to be as shown in the cut — sag- 

 not entirely prevented, and vertical waves 

 produced between the splints. 



As no convenient or expeditious method 

 of splinting foundation has ever before 

 been described. I will describe the plan 

 and the machine that we use. 



A board 8x 16-'4X^ is nailed to a 

 bench, a lever §x2xl8 (on the lower 

 side of which is screwed a block f x 3 x 8) 

 is hinged as shown, and to the upper side 



^ i 



Wavy Combs When Only Splints are Used. 



Sd we prefer to wire the frames with 

 three horizontal wires; and reinforce the 

 part where most of the sag occurs, with 

 two short splints, four or five mches long 

 (tooth-picks will do in an emergency) or 



a small spiral spring is attached by one 

 end, and engaging a screw-eye, while the 

 upper end is fastened to a cord, which 

 hooks over a screw-hook in the ceiling. 

 The foundation, after having the paper 



for light brood foundation 

 five inches long. 



This not only prevents sag, but is a very 

 valuable reinforcement in extracting. 



We have many thousands of frames of 

 comb so prepared, and, while not all per- 

 fect, the average is better than before. 



removed, is placed in a pile at one hand, 

 a sheet is taken and placed on the board 

 as shown, and a sponge wets the block on 

 lever. Two splints are lifted from the 

 hot wax, and " snapped " into place, over 

 two lead-pencil marks on the board 

 (which show through the foundation) the 



