no A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



combs — and to completely furnish a lo-frame Wood- 

 bury hive, requires about 5 square feet, equalling, the 

 consumption of 1 5 lbs. or 20 lbs. of honey by the Bees. 

 The comb foundation may be used with equal advan- 

 tage in starting swarms, as an aid to driven Bees in 

 autumn, or to replace combs from any cause removed 

 from hives; for broad combs the sheets should be cut 

 about an inch smaller in width and length than the 

 frame, as in process of working they stretch to a certain 

 extent, and if the frame be completely filled there must 

 of necessity be some sagging. The way I have fastened 

 the sheets into my frames, has been by heating some 

 wax in a glue-pot (as glue), then fitting a board into the 

 frame not quite half so thick as the top bar is wide, I 

 lay the sheet of foundation on it, with its upper edge 

 close along the top bar, then paint the wax along the 

 joint, and after allowing a few moments to set, turn it 

 over, and repeat the painting on the other side. Should 

 the sheet not hang perpendicular, it is necessary to warm 

 it either by the sun or fire, when it will soon hang plumb, 

 or otherwise the Bees will attach it to the sides of the 

 frames, and the comb will not be central. 



Mr. Root gives the following as the plan he prefers: — 

 " If wax is rubbed hard against a piece of dry wood, at 

 ordinary temperatures, it will adhere almost as well as if 

 put on in a melted state. Therefore, all we have to do to 

 fasten it in the frames, is to lay it in place, and press the 

 edge against the comb guide with the fingers, until it 

 sticks moderately. Now take a knife or screw-driver, and 

 rub it down hard. To prevent the wax from sticking to 

 the tool, dip it in either starch of honey ; we use the 

 latter because it is handier. One corner of the tool 

 should go clear down to the wood at the last stroke, to 

 make a "sure thing" of it. The foundation should reach 



