394 



COMB FCfUlSTDATION. 



until they are saturated with wax and while hot they are 



pressed upon the surface of the sheet of foundation so that 



they may be perpendicular when the frame is hung in the 



^ hive. These splints about 1-16 of an inch square do not 



Fig. 151. 



VANDEEVORT IMBEDDING SPUK. 



seem to be at all in the. way when the combs are built upon 

 them and they make an absolutely solid support for the foun- 

 dation. 



695. As comb-foundation is generally bought in long 

 strips, it may be well to give directions to cut it into pieces 

 of the right size for sections. This may be done with almost 

 any sharp knife. Have a pattern of the size of the pieces 

 wanted, made of hard wood. Take six or eight sheets at 

 one time,' arranged in an even pile. Lay your pattern on 

 them, holding it down firmly; dip your knife in strong soap- 

 suds, and if the wax is at the proper temperature, you will 

 cut the eight pieces at one stroke of the knife. If the sheets 

 have a tendency te slip from under the pattern, you may nail 

 cleats on three sides of it, to encase the pile as in a box., 



696. Are there a right and a wrong way, to suspend 

 foundation in the frames? Or, in other woyds, should two 

 of the six ftides of the cell be perperdicular nr horizontal? 

 Huber, and Cheshire after him, call our attention to the 

 fact, that the bees always build their combs, with two sides ■ 



