148 FIFTY YBAES AMONG THE BEES 



others at such intervals as to allow for cutting the 3% starters. 

 The size of these blocks is not important, % square being a 

 good size. With a rule of any convenient length % x %, this 

 rule being used to guide the knife in cutting, the machine would 

 now be ready for the foundation if one had an eye accurate 

 enough to put the rule in the right place. In order to do this 

 quickly and accurately, nails against which to place the rule 

 at the right places are partly driven in on both sides ; 2%-inch 

 wire finishing-nails are good for this purpose. The board is 

 to lie before you, having the side with the four stop-blocks 

 nearest you. Drive a nail into each side of the board so that 

 there shall be a space of just 3% inches between the end-stop 

 and the nail. I don't mean you shall mark a point 3% inches 

 from the end-stop and drive your nail there, for that would 

 make 3% inches from the end-stop to the middle of the nail, 

 wher'eas it should be 3^ from the stop to the nearest side of 

 the nail. The distances of the other nails from the end-stops 

 will be as follows: 61/2, 9%, 13, 13%, 14^4, UVs- Now your 

 cutting board is all ready for work. 



Two knives are needed, one to be heating while the other 

 is cutting. For heating I use a common kerosene lamp put in 

 a box deep enough so that when a board is laid over the' top of 

 it and a knife is laid on that board the end of the knife-blade 

 shall be directly over the lamp, nearly or quite touching the top 

 of the chimney. I don't know what kind of knife is best. A 

 Barlow knife makes good work, but I think I like better a 

 common tea-knife with a thin steel blade broken off, so it is 2^/2 

 or 3 inches long, and somewhat square at the point. 



Preparatory to cutting, the foundation must be carefully 

 and evenly placed on the board. Take several sheets and even 

 them up true and nice, and lay the pile with one end tight 

 against the end-stop and one side against the side-stops. Now 

 lay a similar pile close beside it. Beginning at the right-hand 

 end, place your rule against the left-hand side of the nails, and 

 with a quick stroke make a cut with the knife held flat against 

 the rule. If you don't look out you'll hold the rule so that you'll 

 cut a piece off the tip of the thumb or fingers of the left hand, 

 but you'll not be likely to do it many times. If you are not 

 careful to hold the knife flat against the rule you will be likely 



