FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 139 



intervals as to allow for cutting the 3% starters. The size of 

 these blocks is not important, % square being a good size. With 

 a rule of any convenient length % ^ %> this rule being used to 

 guide the knife in cutting, the machine would now be ready for 

 the foundation if one had an eye accurate enough to put the 

 rule in the right place. In order to do this quickly and accu- 

 rately, nails against which to place the rule at the right places 

 Ri-e partly driven in on both sides ; 2i/^-inch wire flnishing-na'ls 

 are good for this purpose. The board is to. lie before you, 

 having the side with the four stop-blocks nearest you. Drive a 

 nail into each side of the board so that there shall be a space of 

 just 3% inches between the end-stop and the nail. I don't mean 

 you shall mark a point 3% inohe? from the end-stop and drive 

 your nail there, fox that would make 3%, inches frora the end- 

 stop to the middle of the nail, whereas it shotn'd be 3^4 from 

 the stop to the nearest side of the nail. The'^istanees of the 

 other nails from the end-stops will be as follews : 6%, 9%, 13, 

 13%, 14%, 14%- Now your cutting-board is all ready for 

 work. 



Two knives are needed, one to be heating while the other 

 is cutting. For heating I use a common kerosene lamp put in 

 a box deep enough so that when a board is laid over the top of 

 it and a knife is laid on that board the end of the knife-blade 

 shall be directly over the lamp, nearly or quite touching the top 

 of the chimney. I don't know what kind of a knife is best. A 

 Barlow knife makes good work, but I think I like better a 

 common tea-knife with a thin steel blade broken off, so it is 2% 

 or 3 inches long, and somewhat square at the point. 



Preparatory to cutting, the foundation must be carefully 

 and evenly placed on the board. Take several sheets and even 

 them up true and nice, and lay the pile with one end tight 

 against the end-stop and one side against the side-stops. Now 

 lay a similar pile close beside it. Beginning at the right-haqd 

 end, place your rule against the left-hand side of the nails, and 

 with a quick stroke make a cut with the knife held flat against 

 the rule. If you don't look out you'll hold the rule so that you'U 

 cut a piece off the tip of the thumb or fingers of the left hand, 

 but you'll not be likely to do it many times. If you are not 

 careful to hold the knife flat against the rule you will be likely 



