1907. THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. I35 



the wires, while the foundation, not ways when wax is scarce, bees gnaw 

 the frame, holds the wires in the the edges of their combs to get wax 

 "wires made in" sort. Consequently, to cap over brood with. This is bad 

 a comb built on the last mentioned enough in all cases, but when it hap- 

 kind must be kept edge down else pens with combs built on wired foun- 

 it swings in a frame like a door on dation, the evil is bad indeed. The 

 hinges. Of course, if bees fasten bees expose the ends of the numer- 

 combs to end-bars well, then this is ous wires and apparently are influenc- 

 not so likely to happen, but we all ed to gnaw more and more. I found 

 well know that bees don't always do many combs which had a fringe oi 

 what we wish they might, and there wires sticking out their lower edges 

 are many colonies which seem pos- an inch or more. Every comb built 

 sessed to keep the comb clear of all on the wired foundation has a cheval- 

 parts of the frame except the top-bar. de-frise of greater or less develop- 

 With the wired frame the comb can- ment along its lower edge, while the 

 not swing whether fastened to frame two outer wires are frequently gnaw- 

 or not. ed entirely clear so that they hang 



Were the facts already mentioned on the frame like two little love curls 

 the only faults of this wired founda- it is doubtful whether foundation 

 tion, then I might still use it in some already wired is worth effort toward 

 amount. It is convenient for wide improvement. If it is to be made it 

 starters, for it will not sag a particle, should be wired (?) with material 

 no matter how wide a starter is used, absolutely without elasticity, and ma- 

 Unfortunately it possesses other terial which the bees can remove in 

 faults still worse than those already case of exposure. The annoyance of 

 mentioned. pulling out a comb with wires drag- 



The wires possess naturally more ging along the adjoining comb, there- 

 or less elasticity, and when the sheet by stirring the bees to wrath, is not 

 is rolled in the making, the wires to be thought lightly of. 

 tend to be curled up all on a side. Norwich Conn. 



The several wires, about an inch ' 



apart, exert unitedly a gentle but 



steady push to one side. The sheets GERMAN HONEY IMPORTS. 

 so long as left piled together remain Oakland, Cal., April 27,1907. 



flat and beautiful to behold. Hang Co^i^ yo^ gj^e^ through The Bee- 

 one up a one ma warrn room, and Keeper, the duty on honey and wax 

 in three hours the whole sheet will ^^-^^^ j^^q Germany, also the market 

 have a curl in it like a fish-hook, p^ice for several fall months last 

 Fill a hive with frames filled with y^^j., -pj^is information may be of 

 these sheets and many combs w:ll ^,5^ ^o other subscribers who, like 

 curl to come in contact, while others myself, are looking for the highest 

 will separatees much as two inches, market price in disposing of this 

 The result is something horrifying yg^^'s crop. Yours truly. 

 to an intelligent apiarist. He has to j j^ Dixon 



go through his hives, take out each 



comb and pinch the edge back the L. Gabain writes me from Ham- 

 other way, in a word, uncurl the burg, letter just at hand, that he im- 

 lower edge of the foundation or ports the larger share of the honey 

 comb. In more than one instance I which comes to Germany from for- 

 have had the pleasure (?) of lifting eign countries, or about 3,000,000 

 a comb only to haul out the next one pounds in all, for which he pays from 

 bodily, the two havine been so com- $4-28 to $5.23 per hundred. The im- 

 pletely united by the bees. The Port duty on this honey amounts to 

 second one comes out, of course, all $4-76 oer hundred pounds. It is ship- 

 rolled and twisted almost beyond re- Ped in the square cans, two in a box, 

 pair. and after the boxes are weighed, 9 



I had to go through all my hives per cent is allowed for the packages. 

 this spring and straighten and make Yours truly, 



over scores of combs. Very few F. Greiner. 



combs indeed of those built gn wired 



foundation were first-class combs. Strive to produce better honey 



In times of scarcity and almost al- rather than more honey. 



