THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



283 



work in hiving swarms on frames 

 having simply starters of foundations 

 two inches wide. The building of 

 much drone-comb has not given me 

 any trouble. In fact, I have had 

 many colonies that did not build as 

 much drone-comb as I think they 

 ought to have built. 



6. Yes, I prefer the heavy foun- 

 dation without wire. It should run 

 from four to five square feet to the 

 pound. 



ANSWERS BY G. W. DEMAREE. 



1. I know of no better method of 

 fastening foundation in brood-frames 

 than the use of the putty knife, 

 and melted wax. 



A friend of mine used a machine 

 which he purchased from some one, 

 that was intended to press the edge 

 of the foundation fast to the top bar, 

 by one stroke of a lever, but it did 

 not prove a success under my in- 

 spection. The length of the top 

 bar of any brood- frame is too great to 

 make such a plan a success. 



2. I have tried a Parker fastener ; 

 but as it is usually made, the lever 

 wriggles about too much to suit me. 

 If a man had three hands, one to 

 work the lever, one to hold the sec- 

 tion in place, and one to hold the 

 foundation in place, the Parker fas- 

 tener would be a success. But in 

 the absence of the third hand, I found 

 it necessary to improve the little ma- 

 chine, by putting guides at the sides 

 of the lever, so that the latter cannot 

 wriggle out of line, and punch the 

 section out of place, when it is 

 thrust forward to press the founda- 

 tion into the wood of the section. 

 After improving Parker's little ma- 

 chine in several ways, it is not only 

 practical, but a "joy forever." It is 

 really a labor-saving little implement. 



3. It is beyond question good 

 economy to lay in a stock of founda- 

 tion when it can be had at the low- 

 est figures. If it is kept closely 

 packed in a tight box it will not de- 

 teriorate in quality. I have tested this 



matter pretty thoroughly. I do not 

 recommend the plan of adjusting the 

 foundation in the frames, etc., a great 

 while before they are ready for use ; 

 but if they are kept where they are 

 undisturbed, and free from jars dur- 

 ing cold, or cool weather, no harm is 

 done so far as I have been able to 

 see. 



4. Alternate freezing and thawing, 

 especially when dampness is present, 

 has had a tendency to loosen the 

 foundation where it was simply 

 pressed to the wood, but wliere melted 

 wax was used in addition to the press- 

 ing process, no trouble has been ex- 

 perienced in this direction. 



5. My experience has been that 

 only thin, and otherwise inferior foun- 

 dation needs wires in the frames. 

 A good heavy article of foundation 

 made of a good quality of wax not 

 more than five square feet to the 

 pound needs no support under proper 

 management. 



Wire in honey combs is unnatural, 

 and has proved a greater nuisance in 

 my apiary. 



6. I would answer yes, all the time. 



ANSWERS BY G. M. DOOLITTLE. 



1. Melted wax. 



2. Have tested nearly all, but 

 prefer the wax. 



3. I think so, but many say no. 



4. If fastened on all winter, it 

 would ; otherwise, not. 



5. Fine, tinned wire works well 

 with me what little I have tried it. 



6. Would prefer the latter as it 

 is less expensive and answers just as 

 good a purpose. On the whole I pre- 

 fer to let the bees build their own 

 comb in its frame, except a founda- 

 tion starter, one or two inches wide. 

 In sections I use full sheets of foun- 

 dation. 



.ANSWERS BY J. H. MARTIN. 



1. Most permanent, one part 

 rosin to two parts beeswax. 



2. I have tested Parker's fastener 

 and use it to a certain extent. I find 



