Teacher'? Leaflet. 



819 



Facts for the Teacher. — The shape of the cell of a bee comb is six-sided in cross 

 section. The bottom is a three-sided pyramid and its sides help form the pyramid 

 at the bottom of the cells opposite, thus economizing every particle of space. In 

 the hive the cells lie horizontal usually, although sometimes the combs are twisted. 

 The honey is 

 retained in the 

 cell by a cap of 

 wax which is 

 mr.de in a very 

 cunning fashion ; 

 it consists of a 

 circular disc at 

 the middle sup- 

 ported from the 

 six angles of 

 the cell by six 

 tiny girders. The 

 comb is made 

 fast to the sec- 

 tion of the hive 

 by being plas- 

 tered upon it. The foundation comb sold to apiarists is quite thick, so that 

 the edges of the cell may be drawn out and almost complete the sides of 

 the cell. However, the foundation comb is expensive and is ordinarily used by 

 the bee-keeper simply as " starters," which means a little strip a few inches or so 

 in width fastened to the top of a section just to give the bees a hint that this is 

 the direction in which the comb should be built, a hint which the bees invariably 

 take. The cells of honey comb are used also for the storing of bee-bread and 

 also as cradles for the voung bees. 



Two brood frames; one is filled with commercial foundation comb. 



The section at the left has a " starter " of foundation comb. The other sections show 

 the work of the bees in drawing out and building on the " starters." 



Lesson XLIL 



THE HIVE. 



Purpose. — To study the hive and its products. 



Material. — This lesson should be in the nature of a demonstration. If 

 there is an apiary in the neighborhood, it is quite possible that the teacher 



