8i8 



Home Nature-Studi Course. 



Lesson XLI. 



THE HONEY COMB. 



Purpose. — To study the marvelous structure of this product. 

 Material. — A section filled with honey and also a bit of empty comb and 

 a bit of commercial foundation comb which may be obtained in any apiary. 



Observations. — (i). 

 Look at a bit of emp- 

 ty honey comb; what 

 is the shape of the cell 

 as you look down in- 

 to it? 



(2). What is the 

 shape of the bottom 

 of the cell? 



(3). How does the 

 bottom of the cell join 

 the bottom of the cell 

 opposite? Explain 

 how honey comb 

 economizes space as 

 storage for honey, 

 and why an economy 

 of space is of use to 

 bees in the wild state. 

 (4). In the hive is the honey comb placed so that the length of the 

 cells are horizontal or up and down? 



(5). Obsefve honey comb containing honey; how is the honey re- 

 tained in the cells? 



(6). Carefully take off a cap from the honey cell and see if you can 

 find the six girders that extend inward from the angles of the cell to 

 support the circular portion in the center. 



(7). By what means is the honey comb made fast to the sides of the 

 section or the hive? 



(8). Study a bit of foundation comb and note where the bees will 

 pull out the wax to form the cell. 



(9). Whv and how is foundation comb used by the bee-keeper? 

 (10). For what purpose besides storing honey are the cells of honey 

 comb used bv the bees? 



A "section" of honey. 



Note the six girders in the cap of 

 each cell. 



