io8 A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



from comb foundation, and I have often, 24 hours after 

 supplying the wax sheets, found some of the combs 

 beautifully complete, and already containing eggs and 

 honey. When the honey-extractor is brought into use, 

 the value of these straight combs is very apparent, 

 making the labour of extracting come very easy. The 

 sheets I have used were imported by me from America ; 

 many of my friends were supplied from the same con- 

 signment, and all, without exception, give it most un- 

 qualified approval. The cost of the manufactured sheets 

 in America in large quantities is about 2s. per lb., about 

 one moiety of which is first cost of wax ; the latter in 

 England is nearly zj. per lb., consequently the found- 

 ation must of necessity be dearer here. Mr. Root, of 

 Medina, Ohio, who is a large manufacturer of this 

 article, states that in the summer of 1878 his foundation 

 machines were making 1000 lbs. a week, and that four 

 men and a boy could make 400 lbs. per day. This 

 statement will show, that comb foundation need not be 

 a very costly article. My parcels from America, all 

 charges paid, did not come to quite 2s. 6d. per lb. So 

 strong a hold has comb foundation taken on the industry 

 in America, that it is probable the supply of home- 

 grown wax will soon be unequal to the demand. Many 

 experiments have been made with a view of substitut- 

 ing something in place of wax, such as paraffin, and 

 the like, but all have resulted in failure. Paraffin makes 

 a good-looking foundation, but its melting-point is so 

 low that very warm weather causes it to fall. The 

 manufacturers of comb foundation, in order to secure 

 tough sheets that may be used with perfect safety in 

 the extractor, and entirely to prevent stretching, have 

 lately inserted thin wires rolled in the wax sheets. Of 

 course, thus prepared, the combs made on them are not 



