SURPLUS HONEY IN BOXES AND EXTRACTED. 63 



and lengthen out the walls of the cells. These sheets of comb-foundation 

 are very useful in the brood-nest. They answer best when they contain 

 five or six square feet to the pound. They are fastened to the top bars 

 in different ways. Some lay a sheet fiat on the top bar with the edge 

 near the edge of the bar, and smooth it down firmly to the wood with a 

 piece of iron, then tack a narrow strip over this into the top bar and 

 bend it at right angles so as to hang in the centre of the frame. It should 

 not come within less than half an inch of each end and bottom of the 

 frame. Others fasten them simply with the strip ; bnt perhaps the best 

 way is to fasten them in small grooves made in the under side of the top 

 bar with white glue or wax. Wax is preferable. 



In the broodnest comb-foundation is exceedingly useful. Sometimes 

 bees accept it almost immediately, and within twenty-four hours the 

 beginning of the side-walls arc lengthened into walls of cells, and the 

 queen busy laying egg3 in them. They should be made of pure bees-wax 

 and not of paraffine or ceresin. They are especially useful in securing fall 

 honey where it is abundant. If the fall combs for winter use are set away 

 and comb-foundation or empty comb inserted, bees will work with mar- 

 velous rapidity. At the close of the harvest they can be removed and 

 the sealed honey returned for the winter. Sometimes this late fall 

 honey is very nice in flavor and appearance. The sheets if used in sur- 

 plus boxes should be thinner than those in the broodnest because some- 

 times bees will not thin them as they do at others. 



By using strips of comb-foundation in boxes or section-frames bees 

 are stimulated to work on them more rapidly than otherwise, and honey 

 combs more regular in appearance are obtained. 



HONEY BOXES. 



The size and shape of honey boxes should be modified on one baud 

 by the habits of the bee, and on the other by the demands of trade. 



