HOW TO KEEP BEES. 



21 



To secure good ones wire the frames, stretch the wires till they 

 hum like banjo strings, use full sheets of foundation and have the 

 foundation built out in full colonies either by putting a body full of 

 frames of foundation on as an upper story at a time when the bees 

 are gathering freely from the fields, giving the queen access to the new 

 story, or by placing the frames of foundation one at a time in the 

 middle of a prosperous colony. 



The writer esteems highly the Vogeler process of painting the 

 foundation with melted wax after the foundation is fixed in the 

 frames. A thin, flat brush, two or three inches wide is used, and 

 melted wax "painted" lightly over the whole of each surface of the 

 foundation. It stiffens the sheet, prevents "stretching," and pro- 

 duces splendid combs. 



Some cells may be capped over in the process of painting and the 

 foundation made to look somewhat daubed and spoilt, but trust the 

 bees to put it right. 



A little practice and experience will soon give the knowledge of the 

 best temperature to keep the wax, the amount to use in the brush, 

 and speed and pressure of the stroke. The results are worth all the 

 effort it takes to get the knowledge. 



VEILS. 



A veil for protecting the head from the bees 

 is necessary. It may be purchased ready 

 made or made at home from netting. The part 

 used before the face should be black and prefer- 

 ably of silk tulle. The top may have an 

 elastic cord run around it to slip over the hat 

 crown or it may be sewed to the rim of the 

 hat. Similar veils are made of wire cloth with 

 a skirt of cotton cloth attached to the lower 

 edge to tuck under the coat or to tie down. 

 They are more durable than those of net, but 

 are heavier. (Fig. 18.) 



FlQ. 18.— Bee Veil. 



