120 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



To determine the thinness to which the bees worked these foundations, 

 pieces of the comb made from them were cleaned and sent to Dr. Beal, of 

 the Agricultural College, for measurement. I also sent pieces of comb 

 from foundation used in my experiments in 1896, and a piece of natural 

 comb. From five to twelve measurements were taken from each piece 

 generally. Exceptions are found in the case of the Lansing thin, of which 

 but two were taken, and in case of the Root thin, of which but three were 

 taken. Allowance ought to be made these on this account, for in making 

 up the table given herewith showing the results, I have made use of the 

 three lowest measurements in each case as showing best the thinness 

 to which the bees work each. The reason is here: As the bases approach 

 the points where the side w^alls are attached they naturally become much 

 thicker, and evidently measurements in many cases were taken at near 

 this point. The number of measurements and the largest one in each, 

 case are as follows: 



Root, extra thin No. of measurements, 7. 

 Given, " " 22. 



Lansing, thin " " 2. 



Larg-est, 9. 



15. 



" 8. 



Table of Measurements. 



All the measurements are in thousandths of an inch. Dr. Beal writes 

 that the measurements are correct, but that too much stress ought not 

 to be put on them on account of the variations in the thickness of the 

 bases, and I agree that they are not to be relied upon unless there is 

 assurance that they are taken at points not affected by the junction of 

 the side walls. 



