and its Economic Management. 33 
be watched.* Many bees will be seen with strips of wax 
just removed from the “wax pockets” on the under-side 
of the abdomen, arid this they are moulding into shape as 
added to the thick rim on the outer edges of the cells. 
This rim is always present, not only as a reserve of wax 
for lehgthening the cells, but more especially for giving 
strength to the structure, and the better to withstand the 
tramp of many feet ; the actual cell walls being as fine as 
tissue paper. With a few exceptions, as when joining 
two combs, or where drone cells meet those of the worker 
size, each cell is hexagonal in shape, with a base composed 
of three irregular squares, so that the centre point of 
contact is deeper than the sides; thus, the centre of the 
base of the cell comes opposite the junction of three walls 
on the other side of the “ septum.” 
The natural distance from the centre of one comb to that 
of the next is barely 14-inch. It is not, however, absolutely 
_ necessary that this gauge should be retained, and it will 
be found by making the distance 13-inch to 14-inch when 
starting new combs that the bees will build them almost 
entirely of worker cells—five to an inch. When the 
natural distance is allowed, many larger cells are con- 
structed ; these are for storage or for the production of 
drones or males, their measure being four to the inch. 
As soon as the combs are sufficiently advanced, the 
queen deposits an egg in each available cell; this remains 
for two days, when the workers add a milky fluid; and it 
may be taken as a fact that no matter how high the 
temperature these eggs will never hatch without the addi- 
tion of such fluid. In the Spring eggs laid in drone cells 
may be seen day after day, week after week, during 
* Although this method of observation was first described in my 
1888 edition, I do not advocate glass quilts in winter, nor for 
general use. ‘ 
D 
