COMB-HONEY 91 



essential bee-space over the face of the combs resulted 

 in having sections built of uneven weight; a large 

 proportion being unfit for marketing on account of the 

 damage to the combs that projected beyond the wood. 



When the bee-way sections 4^/4 inches by 4^4 inches 

 first came under notice, they were supported in 

 the super by a number of strips of tin across the bottom. 

 Plain sections 5 inches by 4 inches hold about the same 

 weight of honey as the 4% inch square bee-way section. 

 Latterly, the approved method is to have what are termed 

 section-holders resting on two tin strips — one at each 

 end of the super. The section-holder resembles a shallow 

 frame without top-bar, and the same width as the sections. 

 Fig. 45 shows the section-holders, also one of the sections 

 raised to display the small piece of foundation fastened 

 at the top. Both patterns of section are made in America, 

 from basswood % of an inch in thickness (a soft white 

 timber very suitable for the purpose). They arrive in 

 this country in boxes containing "1,000 in the flat," i.e 

 not folded up (Fig. 46. Nos. 3 and 4). The ends are 

 dovetailed, and at proper distances the wood of the 

 section is almost severed with a V cut. 



FOLDING SECTIONS. 



To fold up the sections take a bundle and pour hot 

 water over the V cuts in such a way that all are damped. 

 This toughens the fibres of the wood and prevents 

 breakage when folding. When only a few are required 

 no mechanical help is needed, but there is a special 

 machine made for this purpose. After the section is 

 folded square — if not folded true but a little diamond- 

 shaped, you will have trouble in the super, and the section 

 will probably break in the marketing-case — it is necessary 

 to fasten a strip or sheet of foundation along the top 

 as a guide to the bees. 



The sections in Fig. 17 depict foundation cut into 

 various shapes: the first section on the left has a half 

 diamond piece, the next a narrow strip at the top. No. 3 

 a piece top and bottom, and the last one a full sheet short 



