THE beekeepers' DIRECTORY. lOI 



wax may be woi^ed easily. As the frames are prepared, 

 hang them in a hive and they may soon be used. 



Another way to fasten foundation in frames is to malje a» 

 saw kerf nearly the whole length in the top-bar and wide 

 enough to let the heaviest foundation in. Fasten it in by 

 driving nails through the edge of the bar. 



Should the foundation hang out at the bottom corners, 

 wire nails should be driven in the frame to keep it in place ; 

 the nail sheuld be removed when the comb is built. 



Fastening foundation in sections. 



There are several ways for fastening starters in sections. 

 Of all the methods that we have tested for doing this work, 

 I have found none so good and none so practical as the one 

 I shall describe here. While it is the best plan to fill the sec- 

 tion nearly full of foundation, it will do nearly as well to 

 put a small V-shaped piece in. Cut the foundation so it will 

 come down to within half an inch of the bottom of the sec- 

 tion and let the top be nearly as wide as the inside of the 

 section. When put in in this shape, the labor and time re- 

 quired to do the work are much less. 



In order to get every piece the same size, I make a wooden 

 pattern to cut' them by. I have at hand an iron vessel large 

 enough to hold one quart. In this is placed equal parts of 

 beeswax and rosin which are melted over the blaze of a ker- 

 osene stove. When the mixture begins to smoke a little, it 

 is ready for use and the wick is turned down and raised again 

 when the wax begins to grow cool. Should the mixture get 

 too cool, the foundation would not stay in place and if too 

 hot it would melt the foundation too much when dipped in^o 

 it. One will soon learn the proper temperature that works 

 best. 



When all is ready, the sections are piled on a bench or ta- 

 ble and the work of placing the foundation in the section is 

 begun. I can put them in as fast as a good, smart hand can 

 pick them up and pack them away. The sections are packed 

 away and in the same position they are to occupy on the 

 hive. I like to do all the above work in a pretty warm roqm. 

 Then, if the foundation leans a little to one side, it will 

 gradually settle into the proper position ; even if it should 



