202 miner's AMERICAN 



well as on the comb to be attached. The first trial will 

 prove a failure with the amateur apiarian, I have no 

 doubt. "With old combs, the difficulty of attaching is 

 not so great as with new combs, that are tender and 

 brittle. New combs will melt, when put into the hot 

 wax, very easily ; and it requires considerable skill to 

 perform the operation successfully. When the piece of 

 comb is attached in its position, which must be in pre- 

 cisely the same place that the bees require it, always 

 giving about half an inch space on either side for the 

 bees to pass over, then it may be necessary to give it 

 further security, since the weight of the cluster of bees 

 will often disconnect it, when we think it perfectly firm 

 in its attachment. The further security may be given 

 by dipping the brush into the melted wax, and rubbing 

 a little on at the ends of the combs, which being pressed 

 firmly by the thumb in connection with a few of the 

 end cells, the whole, when cooled, will afford perfect 

 security. 



The brush that I use, is a small paint-brush, but any 

 one can make a brush with bristles or hair, to answer 

 the purpose. When no brush is at hand, a swab made 

 by tying a rag on the end of a stick will do in the place 

 of something better ; but here I am doing wrong to ini- 

 tiate the apiarian into habits of carelessness, in not hav- 

 ing such things at hand, as he should have, in order to 

 operate with facility and success. I condemn half-way 

 work ; and a man that feels interest enough in bees to 

 purchase a swarm, should feel interest enough in their 

 proper management, to have such things as are neces- 

 9* 



