The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1866]: Being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of management, with full directions, adapted for the cottager, farmer, or scientific apiarianNeighbor, Alfred
Science
The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1866]: Being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of management, with full directions, adapted for the cottager, farmer, or scientific apiarian
When it is considered, as writers tell us, that more than 14 lbs. of
honey are required for the secretion and elaboration of a single pound
of comb, it will not be difficult to form a just estimate of the value
of this invention, which thus furnishes cheap and excellent assistance
to our industrious favourites. It also shows the bee-keeper that all
clean empty combs should be carefully preserved and considered as
valuable stock. Another great advantage that it affords us is, that it
renders us independent of _guide-comb_, which is not always obtainable.
When a sheet or a strip of this impressed wax is properly fixed to the
comb-bar, it is _certain_ to be the guide and foundation of a straight
comb. This invention has been derived from Germany, where it has been
adopted many years with success. At the International Exhibition of
1862, we purchased the metal plates or castings, so as to manufacture
the impressed sheets with which we are now able to supply our
customers; and, after the careful trials we have made, we have great
confidence in recommending them.
In the season of 1863 we furnished a Woodbury glass super, with the wax
sheets fixed to the bars, in the manner hereafter to be explained, and
it was truly astonishing to see the rapidity with which these sheets of
wax were worked into comb. Receptacles were quickly made ready for the
storing of honey, and the new combs soon became beautifully white; for,
although the artificial wax has a yellow tinge, yet, after being worked
at and made thinner, it is as good in colour as ordinary combs. For
supers we cut the wax plates in half, making one serve for two bars.
We have received from Germany the following directions for the
fastening of the artificial plates to the comb-bars. Hereafter will
be described a plan which we have adopted, and to which preference is
given.
(_Translation._)--"The unstamped edge of the plate receives incisions
half an inch distant from one another, made with a sharp knife, the
plate having been a little warmed; then it is pinched between two
equally strong ledges, which have been well moistened. The projecting
edge of the plate which received the incisions is alternately bent
to the right and to the left. The comb-bar is well besmeared with
artificial sticking wax (a mixture of two parts of wax and one part
of American resin), and is well warmed at a fire. Afterwards the
besmeared side is laid upon the bent end of the plate, and pressed to
it as firmly as possible. A small wooden ledge, besmeared with sticking
wax, and fastened by means of pressure to the lower edge of the plate,
prevents it from bending, which sometimes happens when the bees work
it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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