Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Bees.djvu/180

176 combs, which will thus have the form of a wedge, and 11⅝ inches between end and end; the bars to be 1⅛ inch in breadth, 7 in number, and to measure from the centre of one to the centre of another 1⅝ inch." He has also, on the suggestion of Mr. Golding, an intelligent Kentish apiarian, adopted another improvement. To induce the bees to lay the foundation of their combs on the centre, and in the direction of the bars, instead of across the interstices, as they often do, thus preventing their easy removal when desired, Wildman spread over them a sheet of paper. Huish uses a covering of gauze, and Howatson inserts slips of glass; the two former from a belief that the builders would not erect their structure on so unstable a foundation as paper or gauze; and the latter, from a knowledge of their dislike to the smooth and slippery surface of glass. Dr. B.'s method, recommended by his friend, is preferable to them all; it consists in fixing to the under side of each bar a small piece of comb, and thus furnishing the bees with a line of direction which they will implicitly follow. The expedient of a guide-comb has been long known and practised, but the mode of attaching it to the bar adopted by Dr. B. is simple and ingenious. He pours a little melted wax on the under surface of the bar, and, while it is warm and in a liquid state, applies to it longitudinally a piece of guide-comb, taking care that the centre of the comb, formed by the bottoms of the cells, shall