§ IX. COMB FOUNDATIONS.
This is an American attempt to improve on our impressed wax sheets. In the proffered assistance to the bees there is here some advance, for not only are the lozenge-shaped plates at the base of each cell more clearly stamped and defined, but the sides of the cells are slightly begun—so deep are the impressions that the foundations of the walls are actually laid.
Being quite a new invention, there has not been much time for fully testing it, but we find from American bee-keepers that when used-in large sheets there is the same difficulty as with our impressed wax—the bees will twist them. As specimens of work these comb foundations are certainly very commendable for appearance. The white ones seem too white to be of pure wax, and any substitute offered to bees has hitherto proved a failure. Mr. Baldridge, a frequent correspondent of the American Bee Journal, speaks of the yellow sheets as far preferable to the pure white, but some that are made partly of paraffin he considers of little worth. Possibly the material of which they are manufactured may be made to suit the delicate senses of the bees. Until this is the case, hindrance rather than help in comb-building will be the result of placing them in the frames and sectional or other supers. The mode of fixing is the same as described for impressed wax sheets.
§ X. CHESHIRE'S GUIDE-MAKER.
At the Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1875, Mr. Cheshire exhibited and obtained a prize for a wax guide-maker, which is an ingenious contrivance. It consists of a plaster of Paris cast, with impressions taken from the metal plates before referred to ([page 187]). This cast is two inches in width, about the same in thickness, and eleven or twelve inches long. It rests in a shallow zinc or tin trough containing water to keep the plaster damp by capillary attraction. The plaster cast may first be soaked in water; then place against its side the top bar of the frame, reversed so that the centre of the under side lies even with the edge of the embossed cast. The wax (which must be genuine) is melted in an ordinary glue-pot; then with a clean paintbrush it is applied to the top of the plaster cast and exposed part of the bar. The wax immediately hardens on the damp cast and does not adhere, whilst the under side of the bar carries an embossed guide of sufficient depth to be an unfailing means of direction to the swarm in the building of straight combs.
When a large number of frames have to be prepared, this ingenious apparatus is a convenience; but for the ordinary apiarian we should advise procuring a few of the impressed wax sheets, cutting them in strips, and fixing without the mess and trouble which Mr. Cheshire's apparatus involves.
§ XI. BAR-FRAME HOLDER.
It is often a great convenience to have a rest at hand to lodge frames of comb on. The illustration shows one that we have contrived, and which will accommodate twelve frames of almost any size. The two broad rests on the top may be set closer or further apart by loosening the screws which keep them firm. They are easily shifted and secured again by screwing up.
This stand is light in weight, so that it can easily be carried about as required. The frames of comb, with bees on them just as they are, are temporarily placed on the holder when an inspection of the interior of the hive is needful, and the combs can be returned to the hive in the same order.