56 DR. miller's 



time they will gnaw foundation as if in pure mischief. They may 

 gnaw it to use the wax elsewhere about the combs. 



Comb Foundation Splints (See Splints.) 



Comb Foundation Making. — Q. I keep a few colonies of bees 

 for my pleasure and have saved some wax. Now, I don't like to 

 sell wax for 20 cents a pound and buy foundation for 65 or 75 

 cents. Can you recommend the Rietsche press? If not, say "no" 

 to my second question; but if you can, please give a few hints as 

 to how to make foundation. Are you making your own founda- 

 tion? Could I make foundation? I have never seen it done. 



A. My time has always been so fully occupied with other 

 things that I never tried making comb foundation. Besides, I 

 think I can buy it cheaper than I can make it. I use foundation 

 mostly for sections, and it would take a great deal of practice to 

 enable me to make anything like as nice foundation as those do 

 who make a business of it. 



There are thousands of Rietsche presses in use in Europe, and 

 in the foreign bee-papers one sees nothing but praise for them. 

 With the instructions that you would receive with the press you 

 could probably succeed, even without ever having seen foundation 

 made. 



Q. What is used as a lubricant on the rollers of a foundation 

 mill? The one I have sticks. I cannot set it close enough to 

 make any cell-walls at that. This is the first time I am using it, as 

 I had a lot of foundation bought shortly before buying the mill, 

 so did not try it before.. I am using just clear water now. I 

 dipped the sheets last winter. 



A. Starch is used as a lubricant, also honey or soap. If your 

 sheet of wax is too cold, the wax will not be pressed up into a 

 side-wall. Try having the wax warmer. 



Comb Honey, or Extracted. — Q. I have a few hives of bees and 

 wish to increase, but am undecided as to which to do, buy fixtures 

 for section, or extracted honey, and, if section, whether plain or 

 beeway. It may save me quite an expense later on. 



A. Whether it is better to produce comb or extracted honey 

 depends upon the honey and the market. The darker honeys do 

 not sell so well in sections, and in some places consumers prefer 

 sections so strongly that even dark honey pays better in section*. 

 From what I know of your location, I think you have light honey, 

 but your market for extracted honey is unusually good, so that 

 my guess would be that you would do well to extract. 



