June 1854
u D
Drumming. Slight with a small hammer only irritated the
bees. Slapping with hands best, jarring of hive and
combs is what is wanted, then they feel as a man when house
is about to tumble down. Must leave. Mexican wild bee. 
and fastened alternately thus, being long enough it would
give no chance for working drone comb. As the bees
get no pollen to encourage breeding they were fed last night both with syrup and flour
syrup. Find this A. M. that they have taken most all the flour syrup, more in proportion than the clear syrup. 
No doubt much more honey required to make comb in cool than in hot weather, to keep up temperature for comb
building. 16th. The stock to which frames with guide frames were given examined this A. M. One had a
frame nearly filled with foundation, three strips. This comb was nearly completed, but had a number
of drone cells where they had built outside of the foundation. The frame was not between guide frames,
showing that they will build drone cells if foundation does not pretty well fill frames. On the strips between
guide frames they had scarcely touched the strip of foundation say two inches wide, showing their unwillingness to work
on wax at this season. They preferred to store up the feed in their old combs. A second stock, both stocks were
very strong, which had two strips of foundation 2 inches wide between guide frames or patterns, had [illegible] out only
on a few cells. A third stock which had one of its full combs between patterns and on each side two frames
with small starters and tin strips, had made on each of the frames considerable comb, enough to fill say 1/3
or more of the frames, all perfect worker combs, a few eggs, and filling fast with syrup, showing not only that
bees are reluctant to build comb at this season but the queen even more reluctant to lay eggs. The
starters were worked toward the tin strips and fastened at top on their edges, proving that the plan
of tins will secure the combs much better for handling. Removed one of the frames and gave another with whole
allowance of foundation. Kept 1/4 inch from uprights and 1/2 inch from bottom. It had two 1/4 inch strips of thin tin pressed with a
heated taper so as to be fairly embedded in the foundation. The tops and bottoms of strips were fastened onto tops and bottoms
of frames before foundation was fastened in. I think this much better than to cut up the foundation into three pieces. If it was thought
best these thin strips might pass under rollers fixed to allow them, but do not think this would answer so well as there 
would have to be a large box to hold the projection, tins might be sent with the foundation. If the foundation was laid a few moments
in sun no doubt the tins could at once be pressed into enough as A. I. Root suggests for wires. Extra cost a mere nothing
if they not only prevent sagging but hold frames [inserted: from] tendency to sag when bees shaken off combs, and thus doubly
secure new combs. 1st preventing springing of heavy frames of honey which tends to break combs. 2nd giving the extra space
for attachment of combs to tins as well as uprights. As all the stocks were strong the bees hung clustered upon the
patterns, so that even with nothing but patterns perhaps much thinner foundation could be used as bees would not be
compelled to hang in such weighty clusters upon them. (17th) Fixed two more frames with full foundation and each
had the 1/4 inch thin tin strips. In one of them [inserted: one] tin on one side, the other on the other side of foundation. No trouble by laying tinned frame
in hot sun to fasten foundation to top of frame and press tin enough into body of foundation. This enables the person selling foundation to send out 
the tin strips with them. The foundation should be made so thin that bees will work it quicker, just enough wax to build the cell wall.