29 



a slanting position as indicated by Pig. 26, run the end of 

 the wedge right along the groove, so as to press the mid-rib 

 against the foundation and open the groove for the wedge, 

 after which press the wedge tightly home in its groove, thus 

 firmly fixing the foundation. If the foundation has errone- 

 ously been fixed in the outer instead of in the centre groove, 

 it should be taken out and correctly inserted, otherwise the 

 comb will be useless. 



To embed foundation in the wires in the frame, lay the frame in 



which the foundation has been fixed on the 



74. Embedding embedding-board (36).with tihe wires above 



Foundation. the sheet of foundation. Take care that 



every part of the foundation is resting on 



the board and that the wire rests evenly along the surface of 



the foundation. Now take the embedder (37) and heat it a 



little, then run it lightly along the wire with an even pressure, 



so as to sink the wire into but not through the foundation ; the 



embedder should be just hot enough to melt the wax sufficiently 



to cause it to flow over and cover the wire. 



VII.— HIVING. 



To prepare a hive for receiving a swarm, place the floor-board 

 (20) in correct position on the stand, the 

 75. Fixing Hive in legs resting ,as close as possible to the 

 position and preparing back edge of the stand (69) , in order that 

 it for Swarm. the operator may stand close up to the back 

 of the hive when manipulating it. Next, 

 with a spirit level , ascertain if the floor-board is level ; 

 if a spirit level is not available, a basin of water may be 

 used as a rough substitute. If the floor-board is not level 

 and steady, it should be made so by wedging up the legs 

 where necessary with pieces of zinc, iron, slate, or other suitable 

 material. Place the body-box (21) on the floor-board , taking care 

 that it fits closely thereto, leaving no space between the floor- 

 board and the back or side walls of the body-box ; when thus 

 correctly placed the spirit level should indicate that the body- 

 box is level. Smear with petroleum jelly or vaseline, the upper 

 chamfered edges of the inner side walls of the body-box on which 

 the frames will rest, and the under side and meeting points 

 of the shoulders of the frames \\hich are to be inserted in the 

 hive ; these frames should have been previously filled with 

 foundation (73), unless frames filled with good empty drawn- 

 out worker comb are available. One frame should be provided 

 for each. pound in weight of the swarm, allowing an extra frame 

 if the weight of bees exceeds any given number of pounds by 

 half a pound or more. Place these frames in the front part of 

 the body-box, behind them place the dummy (25), the sides 

 of which should first be smeared with petroleum jelly so that, 

 it may slide along the body-box walls when pushed Iback or 

 forward ; then push the dummy and frames tightly up against 

 the front of the hive. It is important to remember that 



