now TO MAKE A STAKT IN BEE-KEEPING. 27 



draw out these side walls when the foundation is given tliem. 

 In some foundation the bases of the cells are made flat ; hence 

 it is known as " flat-bottomed foundation " : it is used princi- 

 pally in supers, but the bees do not seem to take to it so 

 readily as to the natural-based sort, and so, though it can 

 be rolled somewhat thinner, it is not to be I'ecommended to the 

 tyro. 



Foundation for the stock hive is now usually made in two 

 thicknesses, the first being that most generally used, of which 

 about six sheets cut for use in the standard frame weigh 



one pound, and the second and thinner foundation intended 

 for wiring into frames, about nine sheets of which go to the 

 pound. The advantages of wiring foxuidation into the frames 

 are very great, as we thereby obtain perfectly straight combs, 

 and can use a thinner make of foundation, which, though a 

 little dearer by the pound, is much cheaper in use when we 

 consider the extra number of sheets in the pound. For ex- 

 tracting, too, wired frames are invaluable, owing to the extra 

 strength given to the comb.s by the wires which run through 

 them. I have had beautifully straight combs built in the 

 brood nests of hives in wired frames filled with foundation so 

 thin that sixteen sheets went to the poiind. 



Why Foundation is used. 



Why we should use foundation instead of letting bees build 

 comb for themselves vmaided is the question which will 

 probably occur to the reader's mind. 



The two principal reasons are that bees take a long time to 

 build comb and use a good deal of honey in doing it — though 

 they do not use neai'ly so much as was thought at one time, as 

 Simmins and others have clearly demonstrated. Simmins 

 states that 6-| lbs. of honey are consumed in producing 



