IMPLEMENTS. 
53 
moistening this implement to prevent the wax from sticking, and then 
fix it firmly by pouring melted wax down the other side. In the case 
of top bars having triangular comb guides or a projecting tongue on 
the underside the foundation can be securely fastened by merely cut- 
ting five or six slits three-eighths to one-half inch 
deep in one edge of the foundation and bending the 
tongues thus formed in alternate directions so as 
to place the V-edge of the top bar between them, 
when they can be firmly attached to the top bar by 
rubbing with a knife handle as before. Soapsuds 
or starch water may be used to advantage in moist- 
ening the knife handle. The foundation roller (fig. 
•41), a small disk of hard wood which revolves in a 
slot at the end of a handle and costs but a few 
cents, does effective work in fastening foundation 
in brood frames; in fact, it is rather better than 
the knife handle for the work just mentioned, ex- 
cept that it will not reach into the corners of the 
frames, and to secure the foundation there the knife 
handle must still be used. The roller will need to 
be moistened the same as the knife handle. 
It is particularly important that the sheets of foundation be well 
fastened, for if one edge breaks loose with the weight of the bees it will 
crumple down in such a way as not only to ruin that comb, or rather to 
prevent the building of a good comb in the frame in question, but also 
Fig. 40.— The Daisy foun- 
dation fastener. (From 
Gleanings.) 
Fig. -11. — Fastening starter of comb foundation in tra 
(Original.) 
very likely in the adjoining frames it* they have not been previously 
built out; and in this case damage will probably result to them. To 
prevent bulging of the comb it is also essential that the sheets of foun- 
dation, if not wired, be narrower than the inside depth of the frame 
and shorter than its inside length. A full inch of space should be 
