332 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. If). 



samples of the new sections from the Home of 

 the Honey-bees, and was quite enthusiastic 

 over their fine appearance. Mr. Gate is a pro- 

 ducer of comb honey. In speaking of the rela- 

 tive merits of producing either comb or extract- 

 ed honey, he thinks that, as it requires more 

 skill to produce comb honey, the true bee-keep- 

 er will not be content to continue to produce ex- 

 tracted, but should aspire to the higher degree 

 of comb-honey production. The comb-honey 

 idea presented in this manner has caused a spell 

 of reflection to come over the Rambler. 



Mr. Wheeler and I finished our southward 

 journey at Fallbrook, and, soon after, returned 

 to Riverside, making a very pleasant prelimi- 

 nary trip to what is to follow in the next ex- 

 perience of the Rambi.ek. 



SHEETING WAX FOR THE GIVEN PRESS. 



PLAIN SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS. 



/{(/ R. L. Tajilor. 



It should be understood that the dipping of 

 wax to be made into foundation by the press is 

 a very different operation from that of dipping 

 it for the roller mill, and this for the reason 

 that, since the roller mill thins and equalizes 

 the sheet in the process of converting it into 

 foundation, no especial care need be >ised to 

 make it of any given thickness or even of equal 

 thickness. But with the press the case is quite 

 different; for when that is used the foundation 

 produced corresponds with the sheet from which 

 it is made, both in thickness and evenness, as 

 well as in length and breadth. 



One reason given to account for the fact that 

 foundation made on the Given press has not be- 

 come popular is that it does not look as well as 

 does that made on the roller mill. It is true, 

 the latter has a smooth shiny surface on ac- 

 count of the great pressure exerted upon it by 

 the rollers, and a certain trim appearance from 

 the fact that the edges of each sheet must be 

 cut to bring it to the required dimensions — a 

 process not necessary with Given foundation, 

 though, of course, it may be used; but whether 

 these peculiarities entitle the roller foundation 

 to be called superior in appearance is a matter 

 of taste. Many would call highly calendered 

 printing-paper the finest in appearance; but 

 the best taste by no means accords it that dis- 

 tinction; and, by the connoisseur, a book with 

 untrimmed leaves is esteemed a luxury. The 

 adage, "Handsome is that handsome does," 

 ought certainly to hold in the case of founda- 

 tion. 



liut another point made against the appear- 

 ance of the Given foundation is, that the sheet 

 is of uneven thickness, and this, since it may 

 be presumed in some degree to affect its utility, 

 has some validity unless the objection is sub- 

 stantially overcome; and to show how this may 

 be accomplished to a satisfactory degree is one 



of the points which prompted the writing of 

 this article. My aim will be to describe a cheap 

 process that will do well enough for one who 

 desires to manufacture foundation sufficient 

 only for himself and neighbors; but from it 

 one who looks for a more extensive business can 

 easily plan an outfit to suit the circumstances 

 of his case. 



An old wash-boiler answers very well as a dip- 

 ping-tank for sheets for section foundation; 

 but another v.essel is required for melting wax 

 to keep up the supply in the boiler, and for this 

 a second boiler or even a less expensive vessel 

 will do. For dipping for brood foundation 

 there will be needed, in addition, a dipping- 

 tank about 4x12 inches by :.' feet deep, which 

 should be fitted with four feet to raise it an 

 inch or so from the bottom of an outside tank 

 which is for the purpose of keeping the first 

 tank surrounded with hot water to prevent too 

 rapid cooling, and should be 8xlt5 inches by S.") 

 inches deep. The dipping - boards are best 

 made of fine straight-grained pine f'a of an 

 inch thick, and of a width and length to cor- 

 respond with the dimensions desired in the 

 foundation. The swelling of the boards in 

 soaking will just about make provision for the 

 shrinking of the sheets. The boards should be 

 as smooth as they can be conveniently made, 

 and the sharpness of all their angles should be 

 carefully preserved. The boards for dipping 

 for section foundation may be any convenient 

 length, but must not be wider than a single 

 piece of foundation for filling a section is re- 

 quired to be— that is, it is very important that, 

 for ordinary sections, it be 3'^j in. wide and not 

 7}i in. Sheets of double width can not well be 

 made of the proper evenness and thinness, and 

 it follows that the board must, in dipping, be 

 used edge first, not end first. For convenience 

 in dipping 1 fit into the center of one edge of 

 these boards a slim screw about 1?4 or ~ inches 

 long, putting it in far enough to give it a firm 

 hold, having first slipped on to it a bit of thick 

 leather, which is for the comfort of the fingers 

 in grasping the head of the screw. The screw 

 is to serve as a handle in making the first im- 

 mersion. The screw is put into the end of the 

 boards used for brood foundation, for they may 

 be dipped end first, though, if one chooses, they 

 may be as well used the other way. In which 

 case the wash-boiler would answer very well 

 for a dipping-tank. 



Presuming that the wax to be used for dip- 

 ping has been properly cleaned, and it is desired 

 to dip for section foundation, the next thing to 

 be attended is thesoaking of thedipping-boards, 

 which should be continued for two or three 

 days before the dipping is to begin, though a 

 less time will do if warm water is used for the 

 purpose, and from six to fifteen boards should 

 be provided, according as the dipper has one, 

 two, or three assistants. I-'or soaking the 

 boards, and for use in the process of dipping. 



