136 



THE FRAME HIVE. 



rollers and is finished, it has received on all parts, and 

 on both sides, impressions just like the commence- 

 ment of cells. 



These sheets — at least, if for use within the hive — 

 are also made of just that thickness of wax which 

 gives the bees sufficient material with which to 

 lengthen out, and to finish off, the cells thus begun for 

 them, so saving them the time and trouble of making 

 any more wax. For use in supers a very much 



Frame Empty. 



Frame with Foundation. 



thinner kind is made, for this is "used more as a guide 

 for the bees, to show them which way we wish them 

 to build their combs, rather than as a help to them in 

 wax-making. 



These sheets of comb-foundation are fixed without 

 much difficulty, perfectly straight within the frames. 

 When all are thus filled they are put into their places 

 within the hive, and well covered over with proper 

 material — generally layers of flannel or carpet. And 

 then, when the bees of a swarm are put into the hive, 

 they are so delighted to find such good provision for 

 them, and almost half their work of comb-building 

 \Jready done, that they at once and without hesita- 

 tiofK^et to work to make and finish their combs out 

 of these sheets in the frames. And the result is that 



