46 MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION 



as a section former is used, the essential feature of which is a form 

 v/hich can be brought firmly about the section by means of pres- 

 sure. The sections thus prepared are ready for the foundation. 

 The foundation used is of a much lighter grade than that used in 

 the brood frames, so as to have as little midrib as possible in the 

 comb honey, and comes in sheets half as wide and just long enough 

 to be cut into four sheets the right size to go into the sections. For 

 cutting foundation nothing is better than a slightly warmed or 

 dampened thin case knife, though a thin roller knife is sometimes 

 used. The sheets thus cut may be fitted in one of two ways, by 

 means of what is known as the Parker foundation- fastener or by 

 means of the Daisy fastener. The former works on the principal 

 of pressing the foundation into the wood. The section is placed 

 upside down upon the edge of the fastener which is made secure 

 by screwing to a board or to the bench. The foundation is then 

 laid flat upon the top piece of the section with the edge just a little 

 beyond the middle of the section. Then by a biting motion the 

 edge of the foundation is pressed into the wood and upon removing 

 the section, the sheet is pressed into a vertical position and the 

 section placed in the right position in the section holder in the 

 super. The Daisy fastener is a little more complicated but works 

 much faster and gives better satisfaction. It consists of a plate 

 ot metal which is heated by means of a lamp. The section is in- 

 verted and the foundation is held in position in the section but a 

 little up from the top piece. By a pressing motion of the fastener 



Fig. 10. The Porter spring bee escape. 



which is leaned against the bench, the heated plate is brought in 

 contact with the edge of the foundation. In an instant the wax 

 is melted and the plate allowed to fly back so that the sheet of 

 foundation can be slipped down upon the section and allowed to 

 cool. Care must be taken not to overheat the foundation or let the 

 section get heated. The section may then be removed and placed 



