292 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Srvr., 1899. 
The first sheets of wax—used more as guides than helps to the bees in the 
building of their combs—were fixed to the centre of the top bar of the frame by 
the aid of melted wax. ‘The next step was to cut the top bar nearly into two 
parts with a circular saw, and, while holding open the saw-cut with a small 
screwdriver, place in the top of the sheet of foundation. On the withdrawal of 
the screwdriver, the sides of the frame closed and held the wax sheet firmly. 
This plan is used very extensively at the present time, but wiring to maintain 
the sheet in the centre of the frame, even if the hive did not stand properly 
level, was soon the approved method of fixing foundation in brood frames. 
‘A simple plan is here illustrated. Five wire nails are driven through the 
side bars very near to the top and bottom, and the points are turned to form 
hooks. Then No. 30 tinned wire is passed round from hook to hook in the 
following order :—1 to 2, and thence by 3 and 4: to 1; from 1 it is passed. below 
the strand running from 3 to 4, and when drawn tight finished off at 2. 
The wires are then exactly in the centre of the frame, and the next step is 
to imbed them in the foundation. ‘l'o do this, lay the sheet of foundation upon 
a board to just fit inside the frame, and fix crosspieces of wood beneath it, so 
that the wires just rest upon it. Then run along the wires a special wheel, which 
will press them down into the foundation. The work is done most satisfactorily 
if the wheel is heated in hot water or over the flame of a candle or lamp. 
WIRED FRAME. 
Unless the top of the sheet is fixed in a saw-cut, it may sag, so most 
beekeepers use the wax smelter, and unite the wax to the top bar by runnin 
along « little melted wax. The smelter is also used when the starters or fu 
sheets are not fixed in a split top bar of the sections. 
ENTICING BEES INTO SUPERS. 
Surplus chambers will soon be required. The early seed crops come 
into flower early in May, when they will be one mass of bloom. Lucky 
the beekeeper who has his stocks strong then, and his supers all ready! 
No device for enticing bees into supers is required under such conditions. 
There are, however, conditions that militate against bees entering supers, and 
these had better be removed. In the first place, supposing we have hives 
holding fifteen or more frames, we cannot expect them to be full to over- 
flowing with bees, although at the same time ten and eleven framed stocks are 
boiling over with bees. The method of procedure in such cases is to lessen 
ran 
the size of the brood chamber by removing the outside combs, and placing 
close to the combs left dummies to keep the bees to the frames allowed them. 
Tf supers are then put on these hives, the bees will enter them just as readily 
