314 



Wired Frames, 



the frame has not the projection the comb can be pressed 



directly on the top-bar and then bent at right angles, as 

 with the Parker foundation fastener. To make this more 

 secure a narrow strip may be tacked to the top-bar, press- 

 ing the foundation. Our English friends use a double top- 

 bar which is dovetailed to the uprights of the frame. Thus 

 in putting together the frame the foundation is pressed 

 between the two halves of the top-bar and so firmly held 

 in place. 



The above methods are successful, but probably will 

 receive valuable modifications at the hands of the ingenious 



Fig. 127. 



apiarists of our land. If we have frames with the V-shaped 

 top-bar (Fig. 69), we may easily break'the foundation and 

 press it on, as shown in Fig. 127. 



WIRED FRAMES. 



But as foundation does sometimes fall or sag, so that 

 many cells are changed to drone-cells, or warp into awk- 

 ward shapes, especially if the hive is unshaded, or receives 

 a full colony of bees with all its frames full of foundation, 

 and as the wax is sometimes so brittle that it will not hold 

 together, however well fastened, wired frames (Figs. 128 

 and 70) are rapidly coming into use. Another point strongly 

 in favor of such frames is, that thev can be handled or 

 shipped, and there is not the least danger of their combs 

 falling from the frames. Mr. Jones states that with wired 

 frames we may use thinner foundation and thus save one- 

 third the expense. The wires should be two inches apart, 



