a beh ey) 
WAX FOUNDATION. 
After the frames are wired they are filled with sheets of “ foundation,” 
which is simply wax made into sheets and passed between two rollers that 
impress them with the bottoms of the cells, ‘This saves the bees so much extra 
labour; and as bees use from 12 to 14 Ib. of honey to make one pound of wax, 
the advantage of using whole sheets of foundation is obvious; also, as all 
worker foundation may be used, the production of undesirable drones is kept 
in check, and honey is also saved in that way. There are three kinds of founda, 
tion made—thick, medium, and thin (for comb honey). ‘The two first are used 
for honey to be extracted. The price is 2s. per lb., and the approximate 
number of sheets to the lb. is— 
Thick broad foundation a, ... 5 sheets 
Medium ron, ae COR ct eee ” 
Thin for section boxes es 3 ... 26 half-sheets. 
WIRE EMBEDDER. 
The foundation is fixed into the frames with what is called a “ wire 
embedder,” of which the Kaster day is a useful kind. it is made of tin, and 
the wire is pressed irto the wax by a rocking motion of the tool. 
‘Before putting the foundation into the frames a piece of board should ba 
provided, cut to fit easily into the inside of the frame; and the wax should be 
slightly warmed and laid on this board, the frame placed over it, and the wires 
pressed in. 
OILCLOTH MATS. 
On top of the frames and underneath the cover, a mat of oil, or American 
cloth is placed, with the oil side down. ‘The purpose of it is to prevent 
the bees from sticking the cover down, and to permit the bee-keeper to 
expose the frames gradually by gently peeling the mat off by one corner. They 
are best kept without holes, as it is more convenient in working the bees; the 
cover of the hive also should be kept tight to prevent the ingress of rain. _ 
Now, to get back to the swarm of bees that were left in the box in a 
shaded place, They have now to be placed in the frame hive, which is effected 
by moving the frames to each side and shaking the bees down into the centre 
of the hive. Tf it is a very large swarm, some trames may have to be removed 
and be replaced afterwards when the bees get settled. The mat and cover are 
next put on, brushing any bees away that may be in the road. If it is a good 
‘warm and the queen is there, they will go to work at once to draw out the 
the foundation, usually the centre frames first; and when they have the comb. 
built the bees will brine in poilen and honey, and the queen will commence 
laying. 5 : 
About a couple of hours after the bees are hived, it will be necessary to 
examine the hive to see if they are working properly and that the foundation 
18 not falling out of the frames,as it sometimes does if not put in firmly, thus 
preventing the bees from building nice straight combs. If they are going on 
well they may be left alone for two or three days, but for a beginner with bees 
it 18 Just as well to look at them often, as he thus makes himself familiar with 
their method of working, which is very simple when once learnt. A smoker 
and a bee-yeil are necessary in order to enable the observer to examine bees 
in comfort. When the smoker is burning well, the cover must be lifted off the 
tive. Then the oileloth mat must be gently peeled off, some smoke being 
own on to the bees at the same time. After the mat is off, one of the centre 
Tames is gently lifted out and search made for eggs and young larve in the 
cells, A bee’s egg being very small, a novice may have some difficulty at first 
M detecting it, but if the comb be held in the right light it may easily be seen. 
¢ €ggs are seen, it is tolerably certain that the queen is all right, so there 
18 NO necessity to look for a queen every time the hive is opened; only the 
88s need be Sought for. As soon as a queen is Jost the bees will start queen 
Cells with these eggs or young larve, except at the swarming se’son, when they 
