1408 



Department of Agriculture 



This, however, is not 

 the only advantage to be 

 gained by its use. The 

 combs built upon it are 

 even more perfect than 

 iL the natural product m 

 that they contain more 

 Fig. 63. Fastening foundation in wired frames perfect cells are all 



worker combs, are straighter, and by incorporating fine wire into 

 the foundation before it is drawn out, the resultant combs are 

 much stronger and tougher than natural ones, which is a desirable 

 requisite for rapid handling, extracting, etc. 



The saving of time and the perfect workmanship of the finished 

 product also applies to its use in the sections used for the pro- 

 duction of comb honey. Since the cells are all of the workers 

 size, the surface of the capping presents a smoother and whiter 

 appearance if full-sized sheets are used, than when natural comb 

 is built or only starters of foundation used, in which case many of 

 the sections will contain more or less comb of the drone size, in 

 which a portion of the honey touches the cappings which detracts 

 uiuch from its salability. The artificiality of this product disap- 

 pears, inasmuch as the bee herself caps the climax. 



SWARMING 



The natural swarming or increase of the honej bee is one of 

 the most interesting and wonderful features of its culture to the 

 student of nature. It also may become one of the most demoraliz- 

 ing and exasperating of conditions to the extensive apiarist who 

 has failed to exercise the necessary precaution early in the season 

 to avoid or ameliorate the conditions that naturally obtain when 

 his colonies become populous. 



With a moderate natural increase earlv in the season, and a 

 long honey flow, the amount of surplus may not be materially 

 lessened, but at the best, there is sure to be a waste of time in 

 caring for the swarms as thej issue. As is the case in some sea- 

 sons, if swai-ming is excessive, a large yield of surplus cannot be 

 expected. 



