16 The Townsend Bee Book 
the section, when folded, shall be square on account of the full 
sheets of foundation to be put into them, as will be explained later. 
At one time we poured hot water from a tea-kettle into the V 
grooves of the sections before removing them from the crate. We 
placed the crate on edge and removed the side in order to expose 
all of the V grooves so that the hot water from the kettle could 
follow clear through all of the five hundred sections. We found 
that this method caused the sections to swell to such an extent 
that they could hardly be bent around sufficiently to get the 
notched ends together. 
HOW TO DAMPEN SECTIONS SO THEY WILL FOLD PROPERLY 
If the weather is dry, as it is likely to be in summer, or if 
there was a fire in the room where the sections were stored, the 
folding can not be properly done unless these sections are damp- 
ened. To do this, remove enough of the crating to expose all the 
V grooves in the outside layer of sections, and then group the 
crates together and cover them with a wet blanket, which has 
been wrung out so that no water can drip from it. The next morn- 
ing the sections will be in first-class shape to fold. 
The above method is the one to follow during a very dry time 
in summer, or whenever the sections for any cause are bone-dry. 
Very frequently sections need but little dampening to be in good 
condition; and in such cases a little water should be sprinkled 
upon a dry blanket, using judgment as to the amount needed. A 
little experience along this line will make everything work nicely. 
FOLDING SECTIONS 
To be sure that the sections will be square after they are 
folded, a section-press is essential. This device forces the notched 
ends of the section together while every corner is held true and 
square. Properly made sections put together with a press of some 
good make will give very little trouble about being diamond- 
shaped, etc., especially if the directions for dampening, as given 
above, are closely followed. 
The folding of the sections and the putting in of the founda- 
tion determine to a great extent the quality of the honey that is 
to be produced. There is entirely too much of the ordinary kind 
of comb honey on the market, and the price is so low that there 
is absolutely no profit in producing it. Extra good comb honey 
should be produced, and then a good fair price asked for it. Dur- 
ing the season of 1906 the writer produced comb honey that re- 
tailed at 33 cents a pound, and at the same time there was con- 
