TEEAIMBNT OF SWARMS AND STOCKS. 55 



same length. Thia error close observation shows to have muoh hindered 

 bees in working with impressed sheet. We have had these midribs 

 converted in stacks into most perfect combs in twenty hours, besides 

 having a large number of eggs laid in the cells, while the bees are forced 

 to exactly follow the pattern, and even show the Une of the join we have 

 been obliged to make ; and a swarm have worked them perfectly when they 

 have been supplied in every frame 6ia. deep. If the upper side of the mid- 

 rib in making is clumsily brushed on, so as to obliterate the form, the 

 bees seem much puzzled in executing the cells, which they delay in begin- 

 ning, and start from the bottom, working upwards ; the side which stood 

 next the plaster being completed notwithstanding. We think this proves, 

 if proof were wanting, that plain sheet is in no way equal to embossed. 

 The work can be best performed in a warm room with the mould soaked in 

 tepid water, and the wax several degrees above melting point, we thus get 

 more time for laying on. Every beekeeper will see the advantage thus 

 gained in preventing the production of a useless horde of consumers, by 

 limiting the amount of drone comb in the body of the hive, while the 

 advantages of obtaining for supers cells of the larger size is scarcely 

 less apparent, since in these bees deposit no pollen, they are more quickly 

 built, and require less wax in proportion to the honey stored. To set 

 this pattern of cell in supers instead of working from natural comb as 

 before, we have been driven, for reasons all good beekeepers will at 

 once understand, to a little device. Procure sufSoient iin. shot to 

 form a layer the size of the guide required; shake these into position 

 upon a sheet of tin upon which has been soldered a thick wire to form a 

 sort of tray. Place the whole upon a hot plate, and fill in the interstices 

 to half the depth of the shot with hard paraffin (paraffin candle will suit 

 capitally). Take a cast in plaster, which bake, and while hot soak with 

 oil, taUow, or hard paraffin (the last is the best, as it makes the oast 

 exceedingly tough). From this may be made any number of moulds in 

 plaster, to be used with hot wax, as before explained. The objection to 

 this plan is that the bees work one side of the sheet more regularly than 

 the other ; so we recommend as much better, while scarcely more trouble- 

 some, as follows : Drive the requisite number of shot called in the trade 

 SSG through a quarter-inch hollow punch (lib. is required for every 12 

 superficial inches of guide) ; place these in a frame of proper size and Jin. 

 deep, formed by screwing slips on to an oak or beech board, and fix them 

 by running hard paraffin between them by the aid of ahot iron. Take 3in. 



or 4in. of iron rod and file its end thus | | in three planes, finish 



upon a hone, and it will resemble tie bottom of a cell ; and punch this 



■n 



