28 BEES FOE PLEASUEE AND PEOFIT. 



1 lb. of wax. The most important consideration, however, 

 is the loss of time. On the under-side of the abdomen of the 

 worker bee are eight wax pockets in which the wax is secreted ; 

 and as, to secrete wax rapidly and in quantity, bees apparently 

 need perfect rest, when buildiug comb they hang in clusters or 

 festoons within the hive : in this way much valuable time is 

 often lost just at the very height of the honey flow. 



It must be imderstood that, were we to hive a swarm in 

 a bar-frame hive, and leave the bees entirely to their own 

 devices, the result would be that they would build their combs 

 across the hive in all directions, joining one comb to two or 

 three frames, and making it quite impossible for the frames to 

 be separately removed. It is therefore absolutely imperative 

 that a strip of foundation, at least |inch deep, .should be fitted 

 along the centre of the top bar of every frame : this will act 

 as a guide fi om whicli the bees will draw out their combs. 



How to fix Foundation in Frames. 



Frames are almost always now made with a saw-cut down 

 the middle of the top bar, and this saw-cut is intended for 

 fixing the foundation in. If a screwddver is inserted in it, 

 and the handle turned round slightly so as to hold the cut 

 open, the foundation may be .slipped into the cut, and, the 

 screwdriver being withdrawn, it will be held firmly in its 

 place : a little melted wax run along the bar just at its 

 junction with the foundation will make all secure. 



In heating beeswax great care must be taken that it does 

 not burn, to avoid which it should be placed in a vessel, and 

 this vessel placed in another of boiling water. An ordinary 

 glue-pot is a very good article to heat bi eswax in. 



Wiring Foundation into Frames. ' 



A thin description of tinned wire is the best for wiring 

 foundation with : it may be obtained fiom most of the dealers 

 in bee appli.'mces. Along the centre of e.ich side bar of a frame 

 bore two small holes with a bradawl, about two inches from the 

 top and bottom bars, and draw the wire through these holes 

 as shown in fig. 17. Now get a board | inch tliick and the 

 same size as the inside of j'our frame ; keep this board damp, 

 so that the founelation may not stick to it, and lay it flat on 



