J 00 THE beekeepers' DIRECTORY. 



tain number, those colonies that failed to be profitable should 

 be destroyed and the hives and combs packed away for use 

 another season. I believe that the above plan is a practical 

 one in any location. 



FasteniBg foundation in frames and sections. 



It requires tact, experience, good judgment and a conven- 

 ient place, as well as the proper appliances for doing good 

 work at fastening foundation in frames or sections. 



While some beekeepers have used hot beeswax for fasten- 

 ing foundation in brood-frames, I have not made it a success. 

 When thus fastened it is pretty likely to break away at the 

 top during a hot day when the bees commence to work upon 

 it. I have used melted beeswax and rosin to some extent 

 and had less trouble about the foundation breaking down. 

 That way for doing such work is too slow and requires more 

 time than I can devote to it. 



I find tliere are, at least, two better methods than the bees- 

 wax plan for fastening foundation in frames. The first one 

 is as follows : Have a piece of board not quite as large as 

 the inside of the frame and same thickness as the top-bar ; 

 nail this board to the bench, say about three itiches on from 

 the edge, so as to leave room for the frame to rest. Invert the 

 frame and let the top-bar rest against the edge of board. Have 

 the sheets of foundation cut half an inch shorter the longest 

 way than the inside of the frame, as it should not touch the 

 end-bars of the frame except at the top. Lay the foundation 

 on the board and let it enter the frame about a quarter of an 

 inch beyond the centre. Have at hand some thin strips of 

 wood, say one-fourth of an inch wide and not over an eighth 

 of an inch thick and as long as the foundation. Place one 

 of these strips on the foundation and drive some small nails 

 through it into the top-bar. Reverse the frame and run the 

 ball of the thumb (after wetting it with spittle) along the 

 edge of the foundation at the top to press it to the centre of 

 the frame. Now, to get the foundation so that it will be flat 

 and smooth, have a board same size of inside of the frame, 

 and threer«ighths of an inch thick ; lay it on the bench and 

 place the frame of foundation over it. Then use the hands 

 or a piece of board to flatten and press the foundation into 

 shape. The reom must be quite warm, say 90°, and then the 



