432 connecticut experiment station bulletin 205. 



Comb Foundation. 

 The comb foundation is a thin sheet of pure beeswax, shown in 

 figure 18, embossed to imitate the base or septum of the natural 

 built comb. The use of this is ahnost indispensable in securing 

 straight worker brood combs. For economy some beekeepers use 

 only starters, which are narrow strips about one inch wide. This 

 results in the building by the bees of a considerable amoimt of un- 

 desirable drone comb. Later, when this is occupied by the queen, 

 sometimes multitudes of useless dfones emerge, which are con- 

 sumers instead of producers. Three workers or producers can be 

 hatched from the same comb surface that is occupied by two drone 

 cells; therefore it is evident that the full sheets of foundation are 

 cheapest in the end. The use of full sheets is further demonstrated 

 when it is remembered that it takes from fifteen to twenty pounds 

 of honey to produce one poimd of wax, 

 and the comb must be built before it can 

 be used for storing honey or brood. 





iPiJitk. •'--"S'<^». 



Figure 17. Nickeled-steel hive-tool. fouSfon.^' ' (iTer 



(After the A. I. Root Co.) the A. I. Root Co.) 



Stocking with Bees. 



After getting the hive ready, the next thing is to have it stocked 

 with bees. As a general rule it is best, if'possible, to buy good- 

 sized first swarms as they issue during early May. These can 

 usually be prociu-ed locally for about three dollars. One great 

 advantage in securing bees in this way is the freedom of any 

 danger of brood diseases which might be found in a colony with 

 combs. Brood diseases are dangerous for the veteran beekeeper 

 but much more so for the beginner. Such a colony hived in a 

 single-story standard hive will soon fill it with honey and brood 

 and a super should be furnished so that all surplus may be stored ; 

 likewise with the sectional hive, a single unit is used and a super 

 of section boxes is put on immediately wif;h the excluder between. 

 It is possible and even probable that this may be followed with 

 another one week later, if the honey flow continues. A second 

 unit of brood chamber, however, shotild be added in sufficient 

 time for the bees to stock it up for winter. 



