i 82 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
some time before machine foundation had appeared 
amongst us. 
Moulds {pm, A, Fig. 48) were made, in plaster of 
Paris, upon the type-metal plate before described ; 
when these were properly dried, their edges were 
planed true. For use, one was soaked in water, 
and placed upon a block having four adjusting 
screws (j-c), upon which rested, horizontally, a frame, 
so that the middle of its top bar {tb) was slightly 
higher than the level of the mould. Molten wax 
was now painted against the top bar and over the 
plaster, where the chill immediately set a skin of 
wax, which, of course, did not adhere, while it 
completely incorporated itself with the wood. The 
top bar, raised, brought with it a firmly-attached 
sheet in correct position, and as straight as an arrow. 
A dabbing motion with the brush produced the best 
impression, which, after a little practice, I was able 
to make nearly perfect upon the upper side : that 
below was, of course, completely so. When these 
sheets were given to the bees, the results were 
almost incredible ; but they made evident what had 
before escaped me, that the lozenges of the metal 
plate w’ere rather too small, and so I determined 
to utilise natural comb. Old straight pieces were 
selected, 'and, with many devices, which it would be 
tedious to recount, the cell walls were shaved down, 
when a cast was taken, to replace the one of Fig. 48. 
A swarm w^as provided with ten sheets made from these, 
and, in sixty-two hours after hiving, I was charmed to 
find ten combs absolutely complete, without a drone-cell, 
and all as flat as a table. In many instances, these 
