108 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



may be cut into the desired shape by 

 the consumer with the point of a sharp 

 knife. If the knife is warmed slight- 

 ly, it will cut the wax much better. 

 To fasten the foundation on the 

 frames or the sections, lay the sheet 

 flat down on the wood, letting the edge 

 rest at the point where it is to be fast- 

 ened. Press it down closely with the 

 finger, and then rub it with a piece 

 of blunt iron, like a screwdriver. If 

 the screwdriver is first dipped in some 

 warm honey, it will not stick to the 

 foundation. Do not get the honey 

 on the wood or else the foundation 

 will not stick. If the iron is kept 

 warm, this will prevent it from stick- 

 ing to the wax. Rub briskly until 

 every part of the edge of the found- 

 ation adheres closely to the wood. 

 After the foundation is fastened bend 

 it down so that it will hang perpendic- 

 ular in the frame or section. Of 

 -course the foundation should be fast- 

 ened to the center, so that the comb 

 will be drawn out an equal distance 

 ■on both sides. 



There are a number of machines for 

 fastening foundation, especially in the 

 sections, one of which is very simple 

 and cheap. The Parker foundation 

 fastener costs only 25 cents or -40 cents 

 by mail, and may be had of any dealer 

 in bee-keepers' supplies. However, 

 this article is written in the interest 

 of those who have but few bees and 

 know but little about the machinery 

 used in the industry, and they will, 

 no doubt, find the method suggested 

 above best suited to their wants and 

 experience . — Kansas Fanner. 



POKCING BEES INTO SECTIONS. 



Next to the wintering problem in 

 importance is that of obtaining the 



largest amount of comb honey in the 

 most saleable form. Extracted honey 

 is comparatively easy to obtain, as 

 while so doing swarming is kept large- 

 ly under control ; but when working 

 for comb honey, we find great diffi- 

 culty in urging the bees into sections, 

 and also in controlling swarming, by 

 reason of such indifference or real 

 mulishness, as we may reasonably call 

 it. No matter how little room we 

 give in the brood chambers, or in how 

 enticing a manner we may fix up the 

 sections, the bees won't go "up-stairs," 

 bnt instead will stick to the lower story 

 till they fill it to overflowing, and then 

 loaf outside the hive in cluster, or re- 

 duce the hive to a minimum by ex- 

 cessive swarming. Of the many ways 

 given as yet to the public, none are 

 found really sure or practical. At 

 times and in some seasons everything 

 is lovely enough, but this is the excep- 

 tion. What we want, is a rule. The 

 reversible craze, either with shingle 

 frames and sections, or at wholesale 

 by turning the hive body upside down, 

 frames, crates and all, is somewhat 

 largely advocated just now, but the 

 great working majority of the frater- 

 nity want a method that is tolerably 

 sure, and what is of more importance 

 still inexpensive. If in order to gain 

 twenty-five per cent, more profits in 

 receipts it is required to expend fifty 

 per cent, more for appliances, it is easy 

 to see that the result as a whole is a 

 "nix." 'This matter is one that I have 

 given some attention during the last 

 five or six years, and the result is that 

 I have hit upon a plan that can be used 

 without any frame hive, and that has 

 so far produced unvarying results I 

 have found by this plan the bees are 

 not at all disinclined to occupy sections 



