pressed into foundation, which of course 

 is fastened into the frame by the same 

 operation. 



Plaster or metal casts, double or sin- 

 gle, are also used ; by being dipped into 

 melted wax, the sheet so formed being 

 the foundation, without needing any 

 further manipulation. 



Another and more laborious method 

 is to take sheeted wax and, with a die 

 or cluster of dies and mallet, form cells 

 as regularly as possible over the whole 

 surface ; the opposite side, of course, it 

 is almost impossible to form. 



In regard to the proper use of foun- 

 dation, I may be pardoned perhaps in 

 making the assertion, that, in nine cases 

 out of ten,. the good or bad effects in 

 the brood chamber are entirely within 

 the control of the bee-keeper himself, 

 depending largely upon the thickness 

 and purity of the foundation, the man- 

 ner of fastening, and the time of its 

 insertion into the hive. 



Many apiarists, who approved of foun- 

 from the first, were severely tried by its 

 liability to sag, and sometimes even 

 break down, after being well drawn out 

 and tilled with brood and honey. 



It w r as soon discovered that breaking 

 of the comb w T as generally caused by 

 impure substances mixed with the wax; 

 as the wax of commerce is frequently 

 adulterated with tallow, cerasin, flour, 

 etc.; though all may be detected by an 

 experienced person, either by odor, 

 taste or feeling. 



.Sagging was due to the same causes, 

 and sometimes by a failure to insert the 

 foundation with the broad part of the 

 •cell uppermost, as the wall with the 

 pointed part up gives much less sup- 

 port, as is easily demonstrated. An- 

 other cause of sagging was the use of 

 sheets of foundation made too thin to 

 support (after being softened by the 

 great heat of the hive) the mere weight 

 of the bees employed in working it out. 



A single season will convince those 

 using it extensively that it not only 

 does not pay, but is a positive, loss to 

 use foundation in the brood chamber 

 thinner than 4 or 4% feet to the pound. 

 In using foundation to obtain the best 

 results, take a heavy sheet, cut it to the 

 size of the frame ; it must be fastened 

 properly, that is, warmed slightly and 

 rubbed with a putty knife well into the 

 top bar of the frame ; and here let me 

 say that I most decidedly prefer the tri- 

 angular top bar ; it gives good support 

 to the foundation, which by its use has 

 not to be bent at right angles, and so, 

 perhaps, be broken or cracked, and 

 there is less danger of your knife cut- 

 ting through in fastening it on. Having 

 fastened the comb foundation into the 



frame, insert it into the hive in the 

 afternoon, so that the whole forces of 

 the hive may work at it and have it well 

 drawn out before it is subjected to the 

 heat of the noonday sun. You need 

 trouble yourself no further about it. for 

 the bees will take care of it. 



But suppose you had used the thin 

 foundation (say 6 Langstroth frames to 

 the pound), you gain - sheets, or the 

 bases of 2; but see the added work. In 

 the first place, you must cut it at least 

 an inch short, for fear of sagging, some 

 will not, but the bees will till up the 

 inch allowed with drone comb; other 

 frames will stretch, and will have to be 

 carefully looked after, and perhaps cut 

 off ; and, again, many will not be joined 

 to the bottom bar, winch is bad for ex- 

 tracting; and, after all, you merely 

 have the central portion of the comb, 

 and your finest honey has to he drawn 

 upon to make up the deficiency in Wax. 

 at the rate of 15 lbs of honey to produce 

 1 lb of wax (some authorities say 20 lbs), 

 but, at the least calculation, the wax so 

 produced costs $1.50 per lb, to say noth- 

 ing of the enforced idleness of your 

 bees, in secreting wax, at the height of 

 the clover or basswood season. 



The giving of foundation in early 

 spring induces the bees to great activ- 

 ity, and so influences the queen to lay 

 freelv. when she would not do so at all 

 in old combs. Therefore, provide the 

 queen with foundation as fast as she 

 is able to occupy it, taking away the 

 old combs to make room, and saving 

 them for swarms or extracting. 



Thin Foundation for Surplus Honey. 



Here the bee-keeper has not the mat- 

 ter so fully in his own hands, for the 

 bees will thin foundation in the surplus 

 boxes, and, again, in a great How of 

 honey, sometimes will not. I imagine 

 the form of the piece of foundation 

 given them has something to do with 

 it. A pointed piece, reaching to the 

 bottom of the box, and serving as a 

 climber, is almost always thinned, while 

 a straight piece, the full size of the box, 

 but reaching only half way down, is not 

 as apt to he well worked out. It isniueh 

 better to till the boxes full, and have 

 them drawn out before t!i«' season com- 

 mences. in the body of the hive. Thin. 

 Hat-bottomed foundation is very highly 

 prized for surplus honey, as is also all 

 that with a very thin base. 



But it should he borne in mind that 

 the heavier foundation should newer be 

 used in boxes in its crude state, hut 

 should be first well drawn out in the 

 lower hive. 



In concluding, let me mention a 

 strange fact that has come to my no- 



