THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 
455 
the block enters the section far enough to hold the 
foundation in the central line. The block, which it is 
best to wet before using, is taken in the left hand; the 
section, inverted, is put over it, when the finger ends 
press the top of the section, and hold it firmly against 
the block. The foundation is placed, and the whole is 
held “angling in two directions,” so that a drop or 
two of wax from the smelter (page 176), run along the 
edge of the foundation, firmly cements it to the sec- 
tion top. By the time the smelter is returned to the 
heating lamp, the wax will have cooled sufficiently to 
permit the section to be turned into the upright 
position by a rotation of the wrist, when it may be 
placed in the crate ready for use. I have shown that, 
after all things are prepared, seven sections may be 
thus waxed within the minute. The hole in the block 
is important ; it gives thumb-hold, allows the air to 
escape when the foundation is dropped into place, 
and permits of the piece, if it settles down awk- 
wardly, being adjusted immediately. 
All who wax many sections will find my plan, now 
appended, an improvement upon Mr. Doolittle’s, for 
it leaves both hands free, while it is .extremely rapid 
and satisfactory. A piece of board (B, Fig. 107), long 
enough to support five or six blocks, has a cleat 
(c/) at each end, so that it will stand at an angle 
of 45*^ to the horizon, as in the Figure, or perpen- 
dicularly if turned over upon its other edge. The 
blocks are a little less than half the thickness of the 
sides of the section, thus holding the foundation cen- 
trally. They are put on at an angle, so that the face, 
“ angling in two directions,” may cause the wax to run 
