NOVEMBER 15, 1913 



Tlie hot teeth melt a small portion of the wax, firmly " cementing ' 



foundation. 



the wire in place in the center of the 



15th issue, last year, is one that has a 

 great deal of merit, for it certainly results 

 in beautiful combs. It is not an easy matter 

 to imbed wires out of line, however, and 

 very likely this is the reason why more bee- 

 keepers have not followed the plan. I hope 

 that the description and the photographs 

 reproduced herewith may help many to se- 

 cure perfect combs — combs which do not 

 have a lot of drone-cells near the top-bar, 

 and which are not bulged out of shajoe. The 

 ideal way to imbed wires in foundation is 

 by means of electricity ; but owing to the 

 difficulty in obtaining the right kind of 

 cun-ent, this plan is out of the question for 



llje great majority. The regular tools or- 

 dinarily used for imbedding the wire simply 

 push the wires into the wax, but do not 

 firmly secure it where it belongs, and on 

 tliis account the foundation is likely to swing 

 away from the wire, so that the combs when 

 built are crooked, or else the wires are to 

 one side of the midrib. Using a hot imbed- 

 ding-tool overcomes this difficulty, for a very 

 little wax is melted at each point where the 

 tooth strikes the wire, so that the wire is 

 firmly cemented in place. Thus it is not 

 necessary to run a stream of wax over the 

 wires afterward, for they will not pull out 

 unless the foundation is torn to pieces. 



Shape of tool used. The broad blunt teeth do not cut the foundation, thereby weakening it, even if the tool 

 is used cold. If used hot each tooth melts a small amount of wax, firmly " cementing " the wire in place. 



