24 A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



Workers never vary, the first are about seventeen to the 

 linear inch, the latter twenty-seven. As well as being 

 used for breeding, these cells are brought into requisition 

 for honey storing indiscriminately if occasion arises ; 

 there are also honey cells proper, generally of elongated 

 Drone construction, sometimes very deep, in supers even 

 two or three inches — these honey cells in thfe main hive 

 are usually found at the top and sides of combs, and on 

 the outer combs more than on the central ones which 

 form the brood .nest. Queen cells, which are only pre- 

 sent occasionally, that is, when Queens are necessary 

 to be reared, if formed of the Bees' own accord, will be 

 mostly found on the margin of the combs ; if the Queen- 

 rearing is forced, they are more often in the centre. 

 These cells are, when fully formed, of an elongated egg 

 shape, one inch long by half an inch in diameter ; -and, 

 contrary to the other cells, which have a slight upward 

 tendency, these always open at the bottom, that is, mouth 

 downwards. The number of Queens that the stock has 

 reared may commonly be known by the bases of the old 

 Queen cells left ; they appear much after the shape of 

 the acorn cup. Cells, where the young Queen has been 

 destroyed by the reigning monarch, are usually quite 

 cleared away by the Workers. Queen cells are never 

 used twice. 



The process of comb-building is thus described by 

 Huber (I may here say that in his time it was thought 

 there were two kinds of Workers, whom he styles Wax 

 Makers and Nurses ; the fact is, there is but one kind ; 

 but the newly-born Workers, for some time after birth, 

 confine their work to nursing arid comb-building, and do 

 not at first issue from the hive to gather honey) -.-^ 



" The Wax Makers, having taken a due portion of 

 honey or sugar, from either of which wax can be elabor- 



